MACEDONIA HOPES TO QUALIFY FOR 1/8 FINALS IN WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP


Macedonia's handball team held Wednesday its final news conference a couple of days prior to the 23rd World Men's Championship in Spain. The team will leave for Sevilla to play matches in the group phase.

Players in the national team say they expect to qualify for the 1/8 finals, secretly hoping to win a medal.


"We are in an optimistic mood and with positive thoughts we are leaving for Sevilla. We wish to kick-start the world tournament with two wins. The reality is a qualification for the 1/8 finals while wishing for a medal," team's coach Zvonko Sundovski told reporters.

Captain Kiril Lazarov urged the players to do their best and to compete without underestimating, adding that the team "has the capacity to win every match."

Macedonia's first match in the tournament is against Chile on Saturday.