1: How does the tournament work?
There are 12 teams playing at Arena Belgrade between today and 13 February: hosts Serbia and the 11 qualifiers including holders Italy and debutants Kazakhstan. They are split into four groups of three, playing over the next six days, with the top two in each progressing to the quarter-finals, from when it is straight knockout.
2: Who are the favourites?
Only three nations have won this competition: Spain (1996, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012), Russia (1999) and Italy (2003, 2014). That trio are again the teams to beat, with Spain on a 22-match winning streak since their reign ended with a semi-final l…