It is the final countdown before the final: On Saturday Romania vs. Denmark (18:15 hrs local time) and Russia vs. Norway (20:30 hrs local time) face in the semifinals of the IV Women’s Youth World Championship in Bar, Montenegro. Those four nations imprinted the women’s younger age categories in the past years, taking a full cabinet of medals at continental or international competitions.

Russia (gold), Denmark (silver) and Norway (bronze) were - with the identical teams - the three medalists at the 2011 European U17 championship, where Romania finished seventh.

 

Tournaments statistics of the semifinalists in Montenegro:

In Montenegro, Russia, Norway and Denmark had topped their groups after the preliminary rounds, while Romania finished second below Russia. As Denmark (against Japan), Norway (against France) and Romania (against Hungary) did not have big problems to win their quarterfinals, Russia needed an extra-time to defeat Sweden.

Norway and Russia are the only teams with a 100% record with five victories in five matches, Denmark have four victories and a draw on their account, while Romania lost against Russia and won four times.

 

Facts and figures:

Russia (183) have scored the biggest number of goals of this quartet ahead of Norway (178), Romania (165) and Denmark (156) – and the Russians have the highest shooting efficiency. They finished 55% of their attacks by a goal, ahead of Denmark and Romania (50% each) and Norway (47 %). By looking upon the number of fast break goals Norway are clearly in lead with 36, followed by Russia (21), Romania (19) and Denmark (16).

 

Top scorers:

The top scorer list shows the strength of all four semifinalists, as they do not have to rely on a single shooter, but can score from all positions by all players. Only Russian Anna Vyakhireva is among the Top 10 of the current top scorer list, ranking tenth with 29 goals. Ana Tanasia (Romania) follows ranked eleventh with 28 goals, while Danish top scorer Frejy Kyndball have 26 goals on her account (rank 14) and Jenny Groetan, the Norwegian top scorer, is ranked only on position 22 with 23 goals.

 

Defense and goalkeeper facts and figures:

Norway have the best defense, as the Scandinavians only conceded 94 goals ahead of Denmark (108), Russia (119) and Romania (123).  Danish goalkeeper Louise Egestorp is the mathematically best goalkeeper of all semifinalists with the biggest number of saves (54), followed by Andrea Austmo Pedersen (Norway, 43 saves), Denisa Dedu (Romania, 41) and Kira Trusova (Russia, 28). Thanks to Egestorp, Denmark have the biggest number of saved shots, too, with 75, closely ahead of Norway and Russia (72 each) and Romania (66).

 

 

The semifinalist’s results at previous tournaments:

 

Youth Olympic Games 2010:

Denmark Gold, Russia Silver, Norway and Russia not qualified

 

Youth World Championship 2010:

Norway: Silver, Denmark 6^th, Russia 7^th, Romania not qualified

 

Youth World Championship 2008:

Russia Gold, Denmark Bronze, Norway and Romania not qualified

 

Youth World Championship 2006:

Denmark Gold, Romania Bronze, Russia and Norway not qualified

 

Junior World Championship 2010:

Norway Gold, Russia Silver, Denmark and Romania not qualified

 

Junior World Championship 2008:

Denmark Silver, Romania 10^th, Russia and Norway not qualified

 

Junior World Championship 2006:

Russia Gold, Norway Silver, Denmark 5^th, Romania not qualified

 

European Youth championship 2011:

Russia Gold, Denmark Silver, Norway Bronze, Romania 7^th

 

European Youth championship 2009:

Denmark Gold, Russia Silver, Norway Bronze, Romania 10^th

 

European Youth championship 2007:

Russia 4^th, Denmark 6^th, Norway 9^th, Romania 14^th

 

European Junior championship 2011:

Denmark Gold, Romania 6^th, Russia 9^th, Norway 12^th

 

European Junior championship 2009:

Norway Gold, Russia Bronze, Denmark 13^th, Romania 14^th

 

European Junior championship 2007:

Denmark Gold, Romania Bronze, Russia 7^th, Norway 12th