Key clashes ready to throw off main round and President’s Cup at Slovenia 2022

25 Jun. 2022

Key clashes ready to throw off main round and President’s Cup at Slovenia 2022

With the preliminary round of the 23rd edition of the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship over, it is time to move on to the next phase of the competition, as the 16 teams that finished in the top two places in their groups move on to the main round, while the other 16 compete in the President’s Cup.

Quarter-finals berths are ready to be handed after just the first matches, as Netherlands and Sweden could link up and progress to the knockout phase at Slovenia 2022 in Group I. However, Group II seems to be more balanced, as Denmark face Norway in a do-or-die clash.

In the President’s Cup, the three rookies – India, Islamic Republic of Iran and Guinea – collide in Group I, while a full-on South American derby between Argentina and Brazil is due to take place on Sunday in the Zlatorog Arena in Celje.

Main Round Group I

  • Netherlands vs Tunisia (18:30 CEST, Zlatorog Arena, Celje)
  • Sweden vs Japan (20:30 CEST, Zlatorog Arena, Celje)

After facing elimination after the draw against Slovakia, the Netherlands bounced back in style and secured a 32:29 win against Japan to progress to the main round, where they will start with two points. Another win against Tunisia, combined with Sweden winning against Japan would see them through to the quarter-finals, before Tuesday’s showdown against the Scandinavian side.

The Dutch side boasts the third-best goal scorer in the competition, left back Kim Molenaar, who scored 25 goals, five less than Austria’s Kristina Dramac, who continues to lead the standings. The Netherlands also boast the fourth-best attack after the preliminary round, with 105 scored goals, only behind Hungary (115 goals), Germany (109 goals) and Sweden (108 goals).

Tunisia are eyeing their best-ever performance at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, after finishing 14th at Hungary 2001 but they have surely secured their best performance in 20 years in the competition, after qualifying to the main round, between the top 16 teams at Slovenia 2022. However, they have lost their only game played against an European side, 25:32, against Sweden.

The dazzling Japan team has thoroughly impressed in the last days, after shocking Slovakia, 29:17 in the first match, while taking the Netherlands toe to toe until the last minutes of their final game in the preliminary round.

Despite starting the main round with zero points, they will likely deploy the same fast-paced game against Sweden, who had trouble starting matches at full strength. Another false start and the Scandinavian side, who is riding a three-game winning streak, might find themselves backed in a corner, as a win would surely see them qualified for the quarter-finals.

Main Round Group II

  • Denmark vs Norway (18:30 CEST, Golovec Arena, Celje)
  • France vs Montenegro (20:30 CEST, Golovec Arena, Celje)

The draw between France and Norway, 34:34, on the third day of the preliminary round really turned this group upside down, with three teams fighting for the two quarter-finals spots, while Montenegro are the plucky underdog which can definitely spring a surprise or two if presented the opportunity. Thanks to their win against Montenegro, Denmark are now leading the group with two points, followed by France and Norway, with one point each, while Montenegro are last, with zero points.

In the only 100% European group, the first game between Denmark and Norway, an all-out Scandinavian battle, will be crucial, as a win for the former would mathematically see them through to the quarter-finals if France also beat Montenegro in the last game of the day. Despite having a tougher group, Norway have conceded 15 more goals than Denmark – or an average of five goals per game – in what could prove to be their Achilles’ heel in this tournament.

“Les Bleuettes” are also favourites against Montenegro, after saving a point against Norway on Saturday, in a hard-fought 34:34 draw. With Lena Grandveau, Sarah Bouktit and Kiara Tshimanga in great form – the trio combined for 47 of France’s 105 goals in the competition – France will be difficult to stop, especially if they revert to their defence-first mentality, which can really frustrate Montenegro’s attack.

President's Cup Group I

  • Slovakia vs Guinea (14:30 CEST, Golovec Arena, Celje)
  • Islamic Republic of Iran vs India (16:30 CEST, Golovec Arena, Celje)

Slovakia were obviously frustrated by missing out on the main round – on Saturday, they did their best by beating India by 47 goals, yet Netherlands' win over Japan sent the Slovaks to the President's Cup. In this competition, they start with two points and are seen as strong favourites against Guinea, who finished bottom of Group B and took one point with them.

Interestingly, all three debutants of the competition ended up in the President's Cup Group I. Two of them, Islamic Republic of Iran and India, will meet in an Asian derby. Of these two teams, Islamic Republic Iran looked better in the group stage, and they open the President's Cup with one point. India, who lost all three games and had the worst goal difference in the whole competition, -93, start with zero points.

Notably, both sides met at the 2022 Asian Women's Junior Championship, which was held in March in Almaty. In a round-robin tournament, India lost 37:42, but went on to win gold.

President's Cup Group II

  • Argentina vs Brazil (14:30 CEST, Zlatorog Arena, Celje)
  • Republic of Korea vs Italy (16:30 CEST, Zlatorog Arena, Celje)

Group II will open with an exciting South American derby. Just three months ago, Argentina and Brazil met in the 2022 South and Central American Women's Junior Championship in Buenos Aires, and the home team Argentina won 24:22, ultimately lifting the trophy. Now the Argentines are also in a better position, as they start the President's Cup with two points. Brazil, who lost all three encounters in Group D, have zero points, but obviously, they would like to grab some in a continental clash.

The Republic of Korea, who had won bronze at the previous edition of the championship in 2018, did not reach the main round and will finish outside the top 10 for the first time in history. Yet the Asian team, who lost against European heavyweights France and Norway in Group D, are determined to fight for the President's Cup. After beating Brazil on Saturday, they will open the new competition stage with two points. In turn, their rivals Italy, who received a Wild Card and returned to this level after a 39-year break, lost all three matches in their group and therefore have no points.