Ahead of round three for Group D at the 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, two teams count the maximum four points earned from two wins in their account – Denmark and Iceland. On Friday 19 July, both sides will look for their third victories, with Iceland opening the day against Norway before Denmark meet Argentina. 

Round three will conclude with Germany meeting Chile, on the hunt for their second win. 

GROUP D
Feature match: Iceland vs Norway
Pavillon Municipal de Deportes de Pontevedra, 10:00 local time

Iceland have impressed so far at Spain 2019, taking two victories. Both wins were versus Pan American opponents – first Chile, then Argentina. Intercontinental clashes are often difficult for European sides, as they have to adjust to the different styles of play against them, so these results were certainly not guaranteed for Iceland before stepping on the court. 

Indeed, Chile pushed Iceland to a level first half before the European team powered through the second period to a seven-goal win, 26:19. Versus Argentina, Iceland led by a comfortable yet far from decisive four-goal margin at half-time, then finished with that same advantage at the whistle, 26:22. 

The match against Norway will present a different kind of challenge – but Iceland will be more comfortable playing a fellow Nordic team, where fast counter attacks, similar defensive systems and solid goalkeepers can be expected. 

Norway were defeated in round one by Denmark, with a heartbreakingly close result of 32:31, which their opponents secured in the last 10 seconds. In round two, they celebrated their first victory, beating Chile 36:25. The final score line against Chile could seem to indicate Norway may be stronger than Iceland, however, that decisive margin was created only in the final minutes after Chile kept within reach the entire match. 

Therefore, the teams seem to be well-matched, hinting that it will be an exciting clash to open Group D on Friday. The 1998 generations of Norway and Iceland have never met in a match at a major international competition, so it is an entirely new clash on this level. 

At the U20 European championship in 2018, Iceland placed seventh while Norway were ninth. Two years ago at the Youth World Championship in Georgia, this Iceland squad ranked 10th and Norway finished 17th. The odds therefore seem to be in favour of Iceland, but nothing will be decided until the final buzzer on Friday. 

Europe versus Pan America

In the other round three matches for Group D, it will be Denmark and Germany meeting the fighting Pan American teams, who cannot be underestimated, despite the advantage appearing well in favour of the European sides on paper. 

After beating Norway in round one and Germany in round two, Denmark will aim to keep their winning record alive when they meet Argentina at 12:00 local time. Germany earned a clear victory over Argentina in round one, before a 25:30 loss to Denmark in the outstanding round two clash. They hope to take their points tally to four when they take on Chile in the last round three match for the group at 14:00 local time in Pontevedra.