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Date: 7/15/2016
 

The final day at the 2016 IHF Women’s Junior (U20) World Championship has arrived, with the undefeated hosts scheduled to take on Denmark in the contest for the title. Prior to the final, Germany face Romania to play for bronze, Norway take on Sweden in the 5/6 play-off, and Korea meet Croatia in the 7/8 placement match. 

All matches will be streamed free and live here.  

Sport Palace Dynamo Krylatskoe, Friday 15 July
Final: Russian Federation vs Denmark 18:00 local time

One year after they met in the final of the 2015 Under 19 European championship, which was won by the Scandinavian team, Denmark and the Russian Federation take to the court to decide another major title. 

The Russian Federation have stormed through their home World Championship undefeated, with only wins under their belt – most recently with a spectacular performance in their semi-final against Germany, which was all but decided in the opening minutes when Russia took the lead and never looked back. 

All the pieces are in place for Russia to finish with their most important win of the tournament – their players are in superb form, they have been well prepared for every match with their own tasks to focus on no matter the opponent, and they have all the confidence of an unbeaten streak behind them. Now they reach the final hurdle, in the form of Women’s 19 EHF EURO 2015 winners Denmark. 

Denmark are also undefeated at Russia 2016, and given that they won the last final they played against the tournament hosts, will likely present the strongest challenge Russia have faced yet in their home championship. With similar styles favouring a powerful backcourt, reliable wings, strong line players and outstanding goalkeepers, the stage is set for a spectacular 60 minutes that will end the 2016 IHF Women’s Junior (U20) World Championship with a great show for fans in Sport Palace Dynamo Krylatskoe. 

Bronze medal match: Germany vs Romania 15:30 local time

The bronze-medal match sees another rematch of a more recent meeting, as these teams faced each other in the final Group C match at Russia 2016. That game ended in a 29:29 draw, indicating that the medal will be decided in a close match on Friday 15 July. 

Germany come into this game on the back of a disappointing semi-final loss, though the team must have been aware they would face an enormous challenge to defeat rampaging Russia on the home court. Germany fought hard and came close to levelling the score at times, but were outmatched by Russia and could do little to slow their incredible roll as they raced toward the final whistle to win by seven goals. 

Germany will find a more equal opponent in Romania, and with an outstanding quarter-final performance behind them that showed they are also well prepared tactically by coach Marielle Bohm, they have a strong chance of finishing with a medal in a 3/4 game that could go either way. 

Romania seemed less shocked at their semi-final loss than Germany, though they fought hard to the final whistle in a game that primarily belonged to Denmark from the end of the first quarter. Despite that result they will take to the court against Germany confident of a close game that could certainly end in their favour – which would be Romania’s second bronze medal at an IHF Women’s World Championship in eight months after the senior team claimed third at the 22nd IHF Women’s Handball World Championship in December. 

5/6 Placement match: Norway vs Sweden 13:00 local time

Sweden may enter this match with nightmares of their last all-Scandinavian encounter behind them, as it was their neighbours Denmark who defeated them in the quarter-final stage to send the Women’s 19 EHF EURO 2015 bronze medallists to the placement round 5-8. Sweden will be determined to not repeat that result, and will face a strong but likely manageable challenge from Norway in their quest for fifth on the final ranking. 

Norway made their way to the 5/6 play-off by defeating Korea in a spectacular first placement round game featuring outstanding attack and strong defence, which combined to see them comfortably hold off the Asian team. Their organised, fast attack highlighted their exceptional backs led by playmaker Helene Gigstad Fauske. 

Fauske will come up against Sweden’s leader in attack Julia Bardis, who is complimented by wings like Olivia Mellegard with their trademark 6-0 backed by the outstanding Isabella Mouratido. 

7/8 Placement match: Korea vs Croatia 10:30 local time

This game will be the first re-match of the day, as Korea played Croatia in the preliminary round Group B match. That game decided which team finished on top of the table to earn what on paper looked like an easier passage through the knock-out phase, but both were defeated by just one goal in their quarter-final – Croatia by Romania and Korea at the hands of Germany. 

Both sides were clearly disappointed to find themselves in the placement round rather than continuing in the race for the medals, and the main question will therefore be who can rise to the occasion. As the Group B match ended with a three-goal advantage in favour of Korea at 26:23, they may have the edge here, though Croatia will surely hope to avenge the group phase result.

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