The final day of action at the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships gets underway on Sunday (23 June) at the 'Pingtan International Beach Sports Base' on Pingtan Island, People's Republic of China.

The day is split into two sessions with the 5-16 placement matches in the morning and bronze and gold medal matches in the late afternoon and evening.

By the end of the day, we will know which two teams will be world champions.

For quotes from all four finalists, read the feature HERE.

For the Day 6 match schedule, see the end of this article.

Two years on, same again for men as Denmark and Croatia do battle for gold

In a repeat of the IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship final from last time out – at Greece 2022 – Denmark face title-holders Croatia in the China 2024 final.

Two years ago, Croatia eased to a 2-0 (24:22, 21:18) win with Nikola Finek scoring 18 points for the champions and Martin Andersen scoring 16 for the Danes.

Both Finek and Andersen are still key players for their teams in 2024 with Croatia keeping eight of their 10 players from 2022, adding Stipe Malenicic and Filip Dominik Hancic to their ranks, while Denmark have seven of the same players, with Andreas Sondergaard Hogh, Rasmus Stark Just and Joachim Trend Hansen the new members.

Croatia remain the only unbeaten team in the men’s competition having won all eight of their games so far, dropping just two sets – against USA and Hungary. In fact, Croatia are on a winning run of 17 games after winning all nine at Greece 2022 and dropping just two sets.

Going further back, since Hungary 2016, when Croatia beat Brazil in the final, they have played 36 world championship games, losing just two – both against Brazil, once in the main round at Hungary 2016 and in the Russia 2018 final.

In Russia they also met Denmark, beating them 2-1 in the quarter-final. You have to go back to Brazil 2014 for the last time Denmark defeated Croatia in a world championship with the European side handing them a 2-1 main round loss, but the South Americans followed it up with a 2-1 semi-final win. Andersen, Ivan Juric and Ivan Dumencic were playing then and are still playing now, while Croatia coach Mladen Paradzik was also involved, on the sand as a player and not coach.

Germany take on Portugal in the bronze medal match, with either team who wins recording their first-ever medal in the competition as Portugal are debutants and Germany have not appeared in the event since 2006. The two sides met on Friday, their main round clash won by Germany 2-0 (25:18, 17:12) with Lars Zelser and Matthew Wollin both scoring 12 points each for the Germans.

In a strange quirk of fate, Spain could end up with yet another fifth-place ranking if they beat Brazil in their 5/6 placement match. If they do it would be their sixth finish inside the top five, while for the South Americans it is their second lowest ranking since they debuted in 2004 and finished ninth – they have medalled in all eight editions since.

Argentina are riding high on a wave with their 7/8 placement match against Hungary already providing their best-ever ranking. For the European Champions, if they win, it will equal their joint-lowest ranking – seventh – which they picked up back in 2008.

Qatar find themselves in unusual territory playing against the sixth-placed side in 2022, Uruguay, for 9/10 place. If Qatar lose, it will equal their worst-ever ranking after finishing in 10th on their 2010 debut.

The USA play Australia for 13/14 place with the North American and the Caribbean champions recording their lowest ranking in four editions since their debut in 2018. Both China and Tunisia will record their highest-ranking in the 11/12 placement whatever the result as it is the debuts of both.

In the final placement match, Oman play Puerto Rico for 15/16 spot with both sides hoping to win so they do not end in bottom spot. For Oman, this represents their lowest-ever ranking, which before was 12th in 2014, while Puerto Rico could record their highest-ever ranking with a win, after finishing 16th in their 2022 debut.

Argentina in unknown territory but the team to beat in final against title-holders Germany

On form and results at China 2024, Argentina enter the final against Germany as strong favourites as they have won all eight of their previous games, remaining unbeaten and seeing off teams such as Brazil and the Netherlands en route to their best-ever finish.

Their story is fascinating, with the core of the side based around the gold-medal winning team of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and led by the same coach – Leticia Brunati.

And Argentina have impressed in Pingtan, digging deep when needed, including in their semi-final against the Dutch, which saw a poor first set turned around completely into a dominant second.

They face the title-holders Germany, who can also boast of holding both The World Games and European Championship titles to boot. However, Alexander Novakovic’s side have been shaky, losing their first games in over two years and struggling to find their smooth, natural way. Despite these setbacks – against Denmark and Brazil – one thing has been certain; their fighting spirit and mentality and this gold medal encounter will be a fascinating one.

In the bronze medal match, the Dutch will be hoping to equal the same position they got in 2022, at their debut in Greece. They face Denmark, who have recorded their best ranking since 2012, when they finished second and will be desperate to medal again.

The two teams met on the opening day of China 2024, with the Danes taking a 2-1 (17:16, 12:17, SO 16:14) win. Denmark’s Lyne Gyldenlove Kristensen and Netherland’s Anna Buter scored a combined 39 points between them in that one and will be looking to rack up the points once again at the top of the goalscoring charts.

With potential The World Games spots available, depending on the result of the final later, the 5/6 Placement Match could have more riding on it than a place inside the top five of the world. For Portugal, it is their highest rank no matter what the score, after finishing eighth on their debut last time out, in 2022, while 2016 world champions Spain will look to see of the threat from their neighbours.

Both Brazil and Croatia will finish in their lowest-ever ranking at a world championship in the 7/8 placement ranking with sixth the lowest point either had been previously (Croatia in 2004, Brazil in 2022).

In the 9/10 Placement Match Vietnam take on Greece, Philippines on their debut fight for 11/12th place with Norway, hosts China play Australia for 13/14 place and Puerto Rico, on their debut, will hope to beat continental rivals USA for 15th spot.

All games will be streamed live on the IHF Competitions YouTube channel (geo-restrictions will apply) click HERE for more information.

Match schedule – Sunday 23 June 2024
all times local

Men’s Competition

Final/Gold Medal Match
1930 DEN vs CRO

3/4 Placement/Bronze Medal Match
1730 GER vs POR

15/16 Placement Match
0930 OMA vs PUR 

13/14 Placement Match
0930 USA vs AUS

11/12 Placement Match
0930 CHN vs TUN

9/10 Placement Match
1020 URU vs QAT 

7/8 Placement Match
0930 ARG vs HUN

5/6 Placement Match
1110 ESP vs BRA

Women’s Competition

Final/Gold Medal Match
1830 ARG vs GER

3/4 Placement/Bronze Medal Match
1630 NED vs DEN

15/16 Placement Match
1020 PUR vs USA

13/14 Placement Match
1020 CHN vs AUS

11/12 Placement Match
1110 PHI vs NOR

9/10 Placement Match
1020 VIE vs GRE

7/8 Placement Match
1020 BRA vs CRO

5/6 Placement Match
1200 POR vs ESP