The recent squads of Sweden and Spain have imprinted the younger age category men’s handball in the last four years – now, in their last match before changing to the seniors, both powerhouses face in the final of the Men’s Junior World Championship in Sarajevo on Sunday 28 July.

Two years ago those players of the two finalists already competed in the semi-final of the Men’s Youth World Championship in Argentina – and Spain took a highly close 24:23 victory to finally win the silver medal, as Sweden took bronze. One year ago Spain vs. Sweden again was the semi-final, this time at the U20 European championship in Turkey, and again Spain booked the ticket for the final, by a slightly clearer 29:26 success. In the end, Spain took their first ever gold medal in a younger age category, by clashing Croatia in the final 34:21.

So the Spaniards had been part of all four finals in all major tournaments on European and world stage – as the first team after the Danes including former World Handball Player Mikkel Hansen some years ago. In the same time Sweden ranked 7^th and 4^th on European stage and won the bronze medal in Argentina as their only silverware.

Overall Sweden play their sixth Men’s Junior World Championship final: In 2003 and 2007 they finished on top of the podium, in 1985, 1991 and 1999 they won the silver medal. Spain will have their fifth Junior World Championship final – and all four previous attempts (1987, 1989, 1995 and 2001) ended with the silver medal. Though both nations have such a big final experience, Sunday’s match in Sarajevo will be the first ever Junior World Championship final in this constellation ever.

Both teams have already faced in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Sweden took a highly clear 37:27 victory in the preliminary round in Zenica – the only Spanish defeat by now, while the Scandinavians still have a clean record by eight wins in eight matches.

By looking upon the team statistics until the semi-final, it is obvious that counter-attacks are the most efficient Swedish “weapon”. Their top scorers Daniel Petterson (47 goals overall/19 counter-attack goals) and Andreas Berg (45/20) scored nearly 40 times by fast breaks. The Spanish statistics looks quite different as the range of scorers is wider: Six players scored 25 or more goals, topped by Victor Saez (38) and Alex Dujshebaev (37). Spain scored from all positions, but much less fast-break goals than Sweden. On the goalkeeper position Sweden has a clear advantage from the statistic point of view: Peter Johannesson is the best goalkeeper of the percentage of saved shots by now: He saved an overall of 87 shots, which means 41,6 per cent. On the other hand Daniel Arguillas has saved 61 shots (28,5 percent). In the overall statistics Sweden have the better defence (181:219) and the better attack (267:258) compared with Spain.