The ranking positions 9-24 at the Women’s Junior World Championship in Croatia are confirmed. In today’s last placement match for the places 9/10, Norway took revenge for their 20:25 defeat against host Croatia in the preliminary round in style, winning 34:26 after their third consecutive victory in this stage.

On Sunday (13 July) the World Championship ends with the placement matches 7/8 (Netherlands - Hungary, 9:00 hrs. local time) and 5/6 (France - Romania, 11.00 hrs. local time), before Germany and Denmark fight for the bronze medal at 14:00 hrs. local time. At 16:30 hrs. Russia and Korea go for gold in the final. All matches will be played in Koprivnica.

Placement match 9/10: Croatia - Norway 26:34 (14:15)

The final match of the World Championship in Dugo Selo was a top game of two powerhouses, which both had missed the qualification for the quarter-finals highly close but then imprinted this placement round.

Norway (beaten by Germany in the eighth-finals) counted on their extremely powerful defence and initially cracked the Croats in attack by their wing players. At 5:7 Croatian coach Neven Hrupec took an early time-out, but despite an intermediate result of 7:8 the match did not change in that period, in contrast: Thanks to their counter-attack 2010 Junior World Champions Norway - backed by a huge number of vociferous spectators - forged ahead to 14:10 in minute 25.

But then the host stroke back, scoring an impressive 6:1 series until minute 34, taking the lead at 16:15 mainly thanks to the saves of goalkeeper Gabrijela Besen.

Who thought that the match would turn around, was completely wrong. First a double strike of Ingvild Bakkerud followed by a double strike of Vilde Ingstad provided the Norwegians with a four goal advance, while even another Croatian time-out could not stop the downswing, caused by failures in attack against improving Norwegian goalkeeper Andrea Pedersen.

Boosted by the “Heja, Norge” chants from the stands the Scandinavians kept their extremely high speed and precision in their counter attacks, causing another Croatian time-out, when the host were down by 21:27 in minute 48. Latest when again Ingstad netted in for 31:24 in minute 56, Norway had secured the revenge for the previous defeat against the Croats and the ninth position.

Final ranking 9-24:

9. Norway

10. Croatia

11. Czech Republic

12. Serbia

13. Sweden

14. Slovenia

15. Brazil

16. Portugal

17. Japan

18. Uruguay

19. China

20. Argentina

21. Angola

22. Tunisia

23. Kazakhstan

24. DR Congo