Today the players are back at Elewijt Center, their regular base of operations. Today they are putting the finishing touches to their preparation towards the World Handball Championship that starts later this week.

The players we introduce today are the Left backs. Quinten Colman is one of them. Colman is like a block of granite, a young rock who can stand his ground quite well. He plays in France at Dijon Métropole HandBall. The second Left back we introduce to you is Sébastien Danesi. After a foreign adventure, he returned to his roots at HC Visé BM this season. The most famous Left back is probably Jeroen De Beule, aka the handballing Fellaini.  Apart from his hairdo, his eagerness and his never-ending style of play remind us of the former Red Devil. Jeroen plays at Sezoens Achilles Bocholt. We also have a fourth Left back and that is Joris Gillé playing at Bevo. During the barrage matches against Slovakia, he took the group in tow on several occasions, as he did during the qualification match against Croatia.

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Sunday, the last day of rest for our Red Wolves.

Today we introduce the right backs.  Let’s introduce Raphael Kötters who, like some other Belgians, has opted for a professional life in France. Kötters plays at Istres Provence Handball. The second right back is Kobe Serras playing at Bevo. Serras is a killer on the right back. It’s very hard to stop him. The third right back is Serge Spooren, several times voted Player of the Year in Belgium. Beside his speed, Spooren has a scorching shot. ‘Hammer to fall’ by Queen was undoubtedly inspired by him.

It is Saturday 7 January, the day the Red Wolves return home.  Tomorrow they will enjoy a rest day before starting the final straight towards Malmö from Monday.

Today we introduce the pivots and so we have two.  Yves ‘Beef’ Vancosen always leads the way and does so with dedication.  Defensively, he is a wall, offensively a battering ram who can strike out with frightening force.  Yves Vancosen plays at HC Visé BM. Simon Ooms‘ roots are, like those of Tom Robyns and Jef Lettens, with the former club Initia Hasselt. And like his two friends, he left Limburg for a professional career in France some time ago. He currently plays at US Ivry. After some injury problems, Simon is fully back and ready for the Red Wolves’ first World Cup.

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Today is already the third and final day for the Red Wolves in Poland. Tonight they play against Poland.  After Morocco and Iran, this will be a real test for the Red Wolves.

Today we introduce the Centre backs to you starting with Arber Qerimi who is all the way back.  Qerimi has grinta and never gives up. He is the type of player you would rather not play against. Bartosz Kedziora, in turn, is an opposite of Qerimi. The Eupen player is calm but no less ambitious. Robbe Spooren is part of the new young and promising generation like Braun, Kotters, Sera’s, Brixhe and Vanhove. In his team Pelt, “Under the umbrella of internationally well respected Bartoz Könitz,” he manage to take successfully the Center back position of a top BENE-League team. Consequently, he caught the eye of Yérime Sylla. Finally, there is Tom Robyns. Tom is one of the pivotal figures of the Red Wolves. As captain, he takes the Red Wolves in tow and drags them through everything. Tom has been a professional in France for several years and currently plays at Saran Loiret HB.

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The Red Wolves successfully completed their first preparation match ahead of the World Cup on Wednesday night. Belgium beat Morocco 30 – 28. Halfway through the first half it was 8 – 6 in favour of the Belgians but then ten lesser minutes followed, Morocco came on and went into the break with a small lead. Halfway through the game, it was 12 – 16.

In a better second half, the Belgians reversed their deficit and were able to distance themselves at the end from Morocco who were not as strong physically as the Red Wolves. Yérime Sylla gave each Red Wolve the necessary playing minutes. Nick Braun was voted MVP.

On Thursday, the Belgians play Iran who lost 32 – 26 to Poland.