A dramatic semi-final between Denmark and Sweden could only be decided after overtime, with Denmark clinching a 40:37 win, after the two sides were tied after 60 minutes, 36:36.

SEMI-FINAL
Denmark vs Sweden 40:37 (18:19; 36:36)

A place in Sunday’s final was on the line when the two Scandinavian countries remaining in the hunt for the title at the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, Denmark and Sweden, collided in the semi-final in Katowice.

While Denmark had previously played the last time in the final of the competition in 2017, Sweden were eyeing their maiden final since 2013, but Denmark looked to be the favourite, riding a six-match winning streak up until this point, while Sweden conceded a loss against Portugal in the main round.

But Sweden had the more impressive win in the quarter-final and they surely picked up where they left off, providing a fantastic defence, and a well-tailored attack, which saw 90% of the shots delivered until the 14th minute being converted in goals. Therefore, it was difficult for Sweden to not be ahead at that point, when they were leading 9:7.

Denmark were no pushovers, but after trading 3:0 unanswered runs, Sweden were still ahead, 14:12, after 25 minutes, with their top goal scorer, centre back Axel Mansson, scoring five times up until that point. For Denmark, their shooting had been less efficient, only 64%, but right back Nikolaj Larsen, left back Anton Houe and line player Morten Dahlgard each scored three goals in the first half.

And after 30 minutes, nothing was decided, with Sweden holding a narrow lead, 19:18, with the difference being made in the shooting department, where Denmark only had a 64% efficiency, while their goalkeepers, Malte Eichhorst and Frederik Moller Wolff, registered a meagre 19% saving efficiency, in definite need of improvement for the second half.

Denmark had a pretty big advantage, though, which could be seen throughout the whole competition and that was their depth, with 12 out of their 14 outfield players scoring at least one goal in the first 36 minutes. And that was exactly what helped them turn around the match and take a 26:24 lead, which could have grown to three goals, only for Ulrik Kirkely’s side to miss three chances to improve it, including a penalty saved by Anton Skoog.

But Sweden were playing catch-up, and with their players getting more and more tired, their defence was slower in closing the lanes, which Denmark exploited through perfection thanks to their excellent breakthrough. 

Yet the match was far from over, as between the 45th and the 53rd minutes, Denmark scored only once, constantly being denied by Skoog, who delivered a fantastic performance, improving his percentage to 38% and lifting Sweden to a 32:31 lead, thanks to a 5:1 run, with seven minutes to go.

However, none of the teams would easily let go of the chance, and when Sweden cancelled another two-goal Denmark lead, the match went into extra time, as Frederik Pedersen failed to convert his shot, and the regular 60 minutes ended in a 36:36 deadlock.

For the first five minutes of extra-time, only one team scored: Denmark. And it was only one goal, therefore everything was on the table. But Sweden could only muster a goal, as Ulrik Kirkely’s side scored three more, to take a 40:37 win and qualify for the final.

Denmark are in the final for the 10th time in history, having already won the title three times, and have ensured the 12th medal, the largest number in history.

Player of the Match: Arvid Skoog (Sweden)