Duels of neighbours drawn for Women's World Championship 2017

Defending champions Norway have been drawn to an almost all-European group for the Women's World Championship 2017 in Germany, but their fans are likely to look forward to facing one opponent in particular: Sweden

Norway's other opponents in Group B include Czech Republic, Hungary, Argentina and Poland. The final tournament draw took place on Tuesday in Hamburg.

Hosts Germany will also face a neighbouring country, as they have been pitted against the Netherlands, silver medallists at the World Championship 2015 and the EHF EURO 2016. They also meet 2013 world champions, Serbia, Korea, China and Cameroon in Group D which will be played in Leipzig.

The two other groups of six include France, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Angola and Paraguay in Group A as well as Denmark, Russia, Brazil, Montenegro, Japan and Tunisia in Group C.

The first four teams of each group qualify for the Last 16.

The Women's World Championship 2017 is played in Trier (Group A), Bietigheim-Bissingen (Group B), Oldenburg (Group C), and Leipzig (Group D) from 1 to 17 December.

Last 16 matches and quarter-finals will take place in Leipzig and Magdeburg. The final weekend with semi-finals and finals takes place in Hamburg.

For more information visit www.germanyhandball2017.com.