Sweden will play the World Championship for the first time next year and on Tuesday the 32 teams were drawn into eight groups, where the two best in each group will advance to the round of 16.
Blue-yellow had more flow than non-flow when the balls were drawn.
Thailand is ranked 13th in the world, but was still in the first seeding group as the World Championship host. On paper, therefore, the easiest opponent from there.
"Was well lucky"
Yes, it was well lucky from that perspective, the other teams are ranked higher. Then I've heard that Thailand's fans are completely crazy, it's going to be sickly cool to play in front of their "crowd", says Isabelle Haak to TT.
The Swedish superstar followed the draw from China, where she plays club team World Championship with Italian Conegliano.
I have a Brazilian teammate and we sat here and hoped a little to come in the same group, says the Scanian with a laugh.
Egypt low-ranked
It was a wish that did not come true. But otherwise, Haak had not much to complain about. Egypt, the lowest ranked of all World Championship teams, was a small win from the fourth seeding group. The Netherlands, ninth in the world, will be a tougher nut to crack for the Swedes.
Egypt I actually have no idea about, our paths have never crossed. The Netherlands played the Olympic Games last summer and when we met them in the European Championship (2021) they won with 3–0, says Haak.
But we have no pressure on us and it's them (Thailand and the Netherlands) who will have the favorite role. It's going to be tough to advance, but it definitely goes. I'm already super excited.
Sweden's group A will be decided in Bangkok. Other playing cities are Phuket, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima in the World Championship, which takes place from August 22 to September 7.
(The teams' world ranking in parentheses)
Group A: Thailand (13), the Netherlands (9), Sweden (24), Egypt (36)
Group B: Italy (1), Belgium (14), Cuba (23), Slovakia (28)
Group C: Brazil (2), Puerto Rico (16), France (19), Greece (30)
Group D: USA (3), Czech Republic (15), Argentina (17), Slovenia (26)
Group E: Turkey (4), Canada (8), Bulgaria (20), Spain (29)
Group F: China (5), Dominican Republic (11), Colombia (21), Mexico (25)
Group G: Poland (6), Germany (12), Kenya (22), Vietnam (33)
Group H: Japan (7), Serbia (10), Ukraine (18), Cameroon (27)
