Meet the teams
Carol Solberg/Maria Antonelli – Brazil (10)
Team: 5th (2017)
Carol: 5th (2007), 9th (2009), 9th (2011), 17th (2013), 5th (2017)
Maria: 3rd (2009), 5th (2011), 17th (2013), 3rd (2015), 5th (2017)
Kelley Larsen/Emily Stockman – USA (15)
Team: Debut
Larsen: Debut
Stockman Debut
Laura Ludwig/Maggie Kozuch – Germany (30)
Team: Debut
Ludwig: 17th (2005), 17th (2007), 9th (2009), 9th (2011), 5th (2013), 17th (2015) 1st (2017)
Kozuch: 17th (2017)
Francisca Ikhiede/Tochukwu Nnoruga – Nigeria (45)
Team: Debut
Ikhiede: Debut
Nnoruga: Debut
The lowdown
On paper one of the toughest groups. Put it this way. One pretty decent team is going to end up finishing third and potentially facing a lucky-loser play-off. Top seeds in this group at Brazil’s Carol and Maria Antonelli, who are experiencing a renaissance since joining forces. The US’s Larsen/Stockman arrive fresh from winning an AVP tournament back home, but the pool’s obvious draw is reigning world champion Laura Ludwig and teammate Maggie Kozuch. So far Laura’s return to the sand since given birth to baby Teo hasn’t hit the heights of her previous partnership with Kira Walkenhorst – but, with the fans behind them, who knows what they can achieve here. Ikehiede and Nnoruga make history by becoming the first Nigerian team to play in a World Championships and you can be sure they will embrace every single minute on court against their three opponents.
Game to watch
First day of the tournament. Center Court. The reigning champion takes to the sand in Hamburg for the first time in two years. Can Laura and Maggie get off to a winning start or will in-form Americans Larsen/Stockman spoil the opening night party? Friday, June 28, at 6pm. Red Bull Beach Arena.
Did you know?
Laura Ludwig is aiming to become the first beach volleyball player ever to retain a World Championship title with a different partner.