Poland’s Handball Journey: From World Championship Glory to Crucial Test in 2025

November 21, 2024 Catherine Williams - Chief Editor Sports

Poland‘s handball history at the IHF Men’s World Championship includes a silver medal in Germany 2007 and bronze medals in Croatia 2009 and Qatar 2015. These achievements mark the peak of Polish handball.

Since those successes, Poland has struggled. They ranked in the top 10 in 2011 and 2013 but fell short in France 2017, Egypt 2021, and Poland/Sweden 2023, finishing 17th, 13th, and 15th, respectively. The last championship in Poland was disappointing, prompting changes in the team’s strategy.

Poland also faced challenges at the EHF EURO 2024, ending in 16th place with only one win in three matches, which eliminated them in the preliminary round. The upcoming Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025 championship will be a vital test for the team. Poland aims to return to elite status, but recent match results have been inconsistent. They drew with Israel and narrowly won against Romania in the EHF EURO 2026 Qualifiers.

Marcin Lijewski, a key player from the past medal-winning teams, has taken charge of the team’s rebuild since 2023. The squad includes talented players like Michal Olejniczak, Piotr Jędraszczyk, and goalkeeper Adam Morawski. However, the injury of left back Szymon Sicko will hurt their chances, as his skills are hard to replace.

Poland qualified for the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship by defeating Slovakia with a 61:54 aggregate score. They now face a challenging Group A, which includes Germany, Czechia, and Switzerland. Germany is a strong favorite, while Czechia, coached by Xavi Sabate, presents a significant challenge due to his knowledge of Polish handball.

The match against Switzerland will be crucial as Poland navigates a competitive group. The battle for the top three spots will likely bring intense competition.

Key players:

  • Arkadiusz Moryto (right wing)
  • Kamil Syprzak (line player)
  • Michal Olejniczak (centre back)

Qualification: Poland qualified through the second phase by defeating Slovakia.

Historical performance in the competition:

  • 1958: 5th
  • 1967: 12th
  • 1970: 14th
  • 1978: 6th
  • 1982: Bronze medal
  • 1986: 14th
  • 1990: 11th
  • 2003: 10th
  • 2007: Silver medal
  • 2009: Bronze medal
  • 2011: 8th
  • 2013: 9th
  • 2015: Bronze medal
  • 2017: 17th
  • 2021: 13th
  • 2023: 15th

Group at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: Group A (Germany, Czechia, Poland, Switzerland)