In a h​​​ighly contested match, Denmark sealed their third win at the 2025 IHF Men's Junior World Championship, 35:31, against France, while hosts Poland crashed out after a heavy defeat against Poland, 22:35. Sweden also finished perfect in the preliminary round, thanks to their 38:29 win against Japan.

​​​​Group E
Denmark vs France 35:31 (18:16)

Having already won their first two matches against Morocco and Mexico by a combined difference of 40 goals, Denmark needed only a draw against France to secure the first place in Group E, with their European counterparts having a goal difference of +36. But the big stake here was the coveted two points, which the winner of this clash would take with them in the next phase.

Therefore, it was a crucial match for both France and Denmark’s future at Poland 2025 and the match delivered as promised, with a fast-paced rhythm, some fantastic goals and clutch saves made by the two goalkeepers. But the first blood was drawn by France, which took a 5:3 lead.

But soon, Denmark bounced back. As it’s their tradition, they used a strong defence to provide crucial balls for their pacy fast breaks, as right wing Magnus Pedersen delivered two goals in quick succession to fuel a 5:0 Denmark unanswered run, which saw France fail to score for four minutes and 21 seconds.

By the point they did score, Denmark were already up by five goals, 14:9, only for three consecutive suspensions seeing the Scandinavian side play with only four athletes on the court for 87 seconds. France did mount a comeback and tied the score, 15:15, yet the last minutes of the first half were Denmark’s, spurred by the MVP of the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, Frederik Pedersen.

Pedersen was everywhere on the court and finished the first half with four goals and two assists, as Denmark held a 18:16 lead, one which they helped grow with yet another 4:0 unanswered run, with left wing Nikolaj Larsson converting a pair of fast breaks, to help Denmark to another five-goal lead, 23:18.

However, France were not going to back down without a fight and they constantly pressured Denmark, despite conceding more turnovers. With a shooting efficiency of over 70%, France cut the gap to a single goal, 25:24, staying true to their ethos to give all their players meaningful time on the court, with all but three of France’s players scoring at least one goal.

But, in the end, Denmark’s sturdy defence prevailed, fueling other two fast breaks to create a five-goal lead, 32:27, with four minutes to go in the match, forging the path to their third consecutive win at Poland 2025, 35:31, confirming their credentials as serious title contenders.

Denmark will now start the main round Group III with two points, tied on points with the Faroe Islands, while France and Romania are on zero points, with France in dire need of two wins in the next two matches to confirm their place in the quarter-finals.

Player of the Match: Michal Barat (France)

Group A
Norway vs Poland 35:22 (18:10)

It was a do-or-die encounter for both teams in their fight for a main round spot, but while Norway would have progressed even with a draw, Poland needed a victory. And it was the Nordic team who comfortably reached their goal, finishing top of Group A with five points, while the home side, who remain on two points, ranked third and will head to the President's Cup.

Supported by their fans in Plock, Poland hoped to bounce back from Friday's big defeat against Slovenia, yet Norway were dominant from the opening minutes. Henrik Ibsen, who had successfully come on as a substitute in their previous match against Uruguay, now started the game and made an early impact, as his string of saves helped the Nordic team take a 6:3 lead by the 10th minute.

Poland tried to resist and come back into the game, but they made a lot of mistakes, which were punished by the fast and powerful Norwegians. Besides, the Polish goalkeepers made just three saves in the first half, while Ibsen stopped nine shots for a 47% save rate. Between minutes 18 and 25, the Scandinavians had a 5:0 run, propelled by left wing Even Haugli, which handed them a 15:8 lead—and they further increased the gap to eight goals at half-time.

After the break, the game became even more one-sided, as Poland scored just twice before the 44th minute. Norway relied on a rock-solid defence, and Ibsen continued to do a good job between the posts—he ended the game with 18 saves and a 45% saving efficiency, so the outcome was clear long before the final whistle.

Despite somewhat relaxing their approach in the final 15 minutes, Norway earned a big win, and a 13-goal advantage helped them finish ahead of Slovenia on goal difference. The Norwegians, who are through with one point, will begin the next stage playing against Hungary on Monday, while Poland will face Brazil in the President's Cup the same day.

Player of the Match: Henrik Ibsen (Norway)




Group C
Sweden vs Japan 38:29 (20:12)

Sweden kept their perfect record intact at Poland 2025, handing Japan their first defeat of the tournament. The result secured two valuable points for the Scandinavians, which they now carry into the main round.

Sweden knew they would need to handle Japan’s trademark fast-paced handball and that their best weapon would be a compact defence. They delivered exactly that, though the full effect kicked in only midway through the first half.

In the opening minutes, Japan looked sharp and focused. A confident 3:1 start gave them momentum, and they stayed in control through the first ten minutes. But once Arvid Skoog found his rhythm in goal, Sweden began to dictate the pace. With a string of saves and a tighter defensive setup, Sweden forced a number of turnovers and hit back with a 5-0 run, flipping the game and building a 10:5 lead by the 15-minute mark.

That run was built entirely from defence and quick conversions. Japan relied heavily on Haruto Nagamori to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough. Sweden’s attack wasn’t highly efficient, with a shooting efficiency of 67% compared to Japan’s 58%, but their defensive presence made the difference. Sweden kept punishing mistakes in transition and extended their lead, heading into the break with a commanding 20:12 advantage.

Sweden opened the second half with a quick 2-0 run for 22:12, seemingly picking up right where they left off. But Japan responded with renewed energy and focus. It was clear that Japan came out of the halftime break more motivated, while Sweden slowed down a bit, knowing the result was largely in their hands. That early drop in intensity allowed Japan to cut the deficit from ten down to six at 22:16.

However, that momentum didn’t last long. Sweden stepped up a gear, with Player of the Match Axel Mansson taking charge—he netted ten goals in total with five more assists. His presence helped restore rhythm, and the Scandinavian side soon re-established their halftime lead.

From that point on, Sweden remained in control and ultimately won 38:29. Therefore, Sweden will join Main Round Group II with two points, just like Portugal, while Japan will start with zero, same as Croatia. This sets up Monday’s opening duels: Sweden will take on Croatia, while Japan will face Portugal.

Player of the Match: Axel Mansson (Sweden)