Two semi-finalists arrive at the penultimate stage of the
2018 IHF Women’s Junior (U20) World Championship undefeated, while the other two
sides each lost one game during their campaign – to the semi-finalists with
perfect runs through Hungary 2018. All four semi-finalists made it to this
stage from Groups A and B, and three of the four squads contested the 2016
Youth World Championship semi-finals for this generation.
2016 Youth World Championship runners-up Denmark are the only
team not to qualify for the semi-finals again, having been replaced by Hungary
among the top four sides in the 1998-born generation of players. Hungary are
also the only one of the top four teams who have never won the Women’s Junior
World Championship before.
In the Hungary 2018 semi-finals on Friday, 2016 Youth world
champions Russia will take on the fourth-placed squad from Slovakia 2016,
Norway, before Korea meet Hungary in a match that promises a great atmosphere
in Hall Fonix, Debrecen.
All games will be live streamed here.
Semi-final: Russia vs Norway – July 13, 17:30 local
time
They
played the two toughest quarter-finals at Hungary 2018 and arrive for the
second-to-last round of games as deserving semi-finalists. Russia overcame the
Netherlands 28:26, after a level score of 14:14 at half-time, in what was a highly
emotional, difficult match for both teams. It was clear long before the final
whistle that whichever side survived the tough battle would prove they belong
among the top squads at Hungary 2018 – in the end it was the reigning Youth
World Championship-winning squad from Russia.
Norway
had an even closer match in the quarter-final stage, against France. In fact, as
France took charge early and led by two goals at the break, Norway’s qualification
for the semi-finals was remarkable. The Scandinavian team grabbed the momentum towards
the end of the second period and ran with it right to the penultimate stage.
Norway
fell behind in the first half against France and only equalised in the 60th minute
after fighting their way back from a five-goal deficit, 12:17, in the 36th. The
game was therefore decided in extra time, with no goals in the second period of
five minutes until Ragnhild Dahl scored the winning shot with seconds on the
clock. It was a thrilling moment for Norway, and a heart-breaking one for the
2017 European champions in this age group.
Now,
Russia and Norway must regroup after their adrenalin-pumping quarter-finals and
ready themselves for what will be a tough semi-final encounter.
Russia
are looking to continue with their perfect record at Hungary 2018, which has
seen them take only wins – versus People’s Republic of China, Chile, Iceland,
Slovenia and Republic of Korea in Group B; Brazil in the eighth-final; and the
Netherlands in the quarter-final. Norway have one blemish their record at Hungary
2018: the decisive Round 5 defeat to Hungary. The Scandinavian team beat Brazil,
Montenegro and Portugal in the preliminary round; and won their eighth-final
against Iceland.
Russia
and Norway have faced two common opponents at Hungary 2018: Brazil and Iceland.
Norway won by five goals against both Brazil and Iceland; Russia beat Brazil by
12 and Iceland by a huge 18-goal margin. These results hint that Russia may be
the stronger of the two semi-finalists, but as Norway showed with their late
win against France, anything can happen in the knock-out matches.
Semi-final: Hungary vs Korea – July 13, 20:00 local
time
Two years
ago, at the 2016 Youth World Championship in Slovakia, Hungary were knocked out
with a one-goal loss to Norway in the quarter-final stage and went on to finish
fifth overall. Now, they have made it among the top four, buoyed on by a
fantastic atmosphere both during and after matches, when the support for the
home side has been a positive asset for their already strong performances.
At the 2016
Youth World Championship, this Korea squad placed third. The teams did not meet
at that event and have never faced each other on court at a major international
event – a fact that could work in favour of Korea, at least early in the match.
The pace of the Asian squad’s attack, their active defence and the vocal,
enthusiastic manner in which they approach a match can often catch European sides
off guard.
Both
Hungary and Korea enjoyed more comfortable wins in their quarter-finals than
Norway and Russia. After proceeding through the preliminary round with only
victories, over Brazil, Portugal and Montenegro and Norway, Hungary defeated
Slovenia clearly in the eighth-final, and then Romania in the quarter-final. Though
they finished with decisive score lines in their favour, Hungary did not have
such an easy time in the knock-out matches, as they had to fight their way back
from deficits created against them in the first halves.
“It was a
very exciting match. I think everything has happened here. There was
stress, excitement, joy, sorrow, all at once – I think it was absolutely worthy
of a fight for four,” said Hungary right wing Dorottya Faluvegi after the
quarter-final versus Romania. “South Korea represents a special game because it
is not a European team.”
Korea’s
win over Denmark in their quarter-final was not a surprise, but the decisive
score line was. The Asian team left the defending champions with no chance, leading
11:7 at half-time and finishing with an eight-goal win, 24:16. The victory came
after their eighth-final win versus Montenegro, which followed a difficult
preliminary round campaign in Group B. Korea opened with a draw against
Iceland, then beat P.R. of China, Slovenia and Chile before losing their last
game to Russia.
It will be
a very interesting encounter to decide the second place in the final. Can
Hungary continue the dream and make it to what would be their third trophy match
in this event, or will Korea qualify for the final for the fifth time?