The second semi-final at the 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship will feature two teams that have never reached the trophy match at this event before, Portugal and Croatia. 

They are two squads with experience at the top level, as this Portugal team reached the semi-finals at the U20 EHF EURO 2018 before ranking fourth, while Croatia had the same experience at the 2017 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship. Croatia’s 1998 team also won the silver medal at the U18 EHF EURO 2016. 

SEMI-FINAL
Portugal vs Croatia
Pavillon Municipal de Deportes de Pontevedra, 20:30 local time

Croatia have played the Junior World Championship semi-finals twice, in 2007 and 2013 – but they have never won a berth in the trophy match. Portugal have contested the semi-finals once, in 1995, and were also defeated. However, Portugal count one medal in their historic record – the bronze won on that occasion. Croatia have never claimed a medal at the event. 

The teams enter the semi-final with very different campaigns behind them. Croatia have taken victories in all of their matches en route to the semi-final, while Portugal recorded two losses in the preliminary round. One of those defeats was to Croatia – a two-goal loss in round five, which hints that Croatia could have the upper hand. 

Croatia also beat Portugal last year at the U20 European championship, with a 30:23 result in the main round. However, they placed behind Portugal on the main round table and had to watch as the team they defeated proceeded to the semi-finals, while Croatia settled for sixth place. 

While Croatia had two of the most comfortable knock-out round wins on the path to the semi-final, Portugal have played two thrilling games to reach this stage. Croatia beat Iceland 29:16 in their eighth-final, then Tunisia 27:24 in the quarter-final. Portugal on the other hand, won against Germany by one goal after extra time in the eighth-final, then also recorded a one-goal victory over U20 European champions Slovenia in the quarter-final. 

Portugal’s win in the quarter-final was secured by goalkeeper Diogo Valerio, with a last-second save after a strong performance throughout the match. While Portugal’s game has steadily been improving and Valerio was crucial in the quarter-final, Croatia have been consistent and their goalkeeper Ivan Eres was in top form from round one. Eres has made the second highest number of saves so far at Spain 2019, with 67. 

It will therefore be a huge goalkeeper clash – and an even more powerful back-court contest. Portugal count on the highest scorer at Spain 2019, Diogo Silva, with 61 goals. Croatia’s right back, Ivan Martinovic, is fifth with 45, and centre back Filip Vistorop sits seventh with 42. 

Photo: Juan Luis Recio/Spain 2019