Spain made it to the final of the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship for the second time in a row and for the fourth time in history, with a 33:30 win over Sweden, in the battle between the top two attacks at Egypt 2025.

SEMI-FINAL
Sweden vs Spain 30:33 (18:18)

Spain and Sweden were the top attacks in the competition so far, with “Los Hispanos” leading the way with 228 goals scored in the first six matches so far, an average of exactly 38 goals per match, while Sweden were not far behind, with 224 goals, or 37.3 goals scored per match.

However, in such a semi-final, defences matter too, but in the first 30 minutes, the two teams matched themselves in an attacking furor, but Sweden had the better attacking efficiency, 71%, as opposed to Spain, which only had 58%.

Nevertheless, the score was tied after 30 minutes, 18:18, as the two teams had their fair share of good runs and worse moments, with Sweden drawing first blood, as they opened up a 12:9 lead after 16 minutes, thanks to some excellent moments from backs Liam Hultberg and Nikola Roganovic, who combined for eight goals in the first half.

But Spain also had some flawless moments, with two 3:0 unanswered runs, separated by a single goal from Sweden, turning the match on its head. Thanks to a pair of goals from right back Marcos Fis Ballester and left wing Sergio Sanchez, who had 10 goals between them at the end of the first half, “Los Hispanos” took their own two-goal lead, 15:13, and looked in control.

While Sweden bounced back, Spain used their 5-1 defence, which clearly hampered the Scandinavian side and proved to be a turning point in the first half, to take back a two-goal lead, but Hultberg tied the score, 18:18, and it was still everything to play for, as Sweden’s mistakes were punished in the first half.

The second half had, basically, a copy-paste approach, with Sweden taking an early lead, 21:19, but Spain bouncing back immediately with a 4:1 run, inspired by Sanchez, with two goals, to take back the lead, 26:24, and exert some more pressure on the Scandinavian side, with Roganovic conceding his second suspension.

Once again, Spain’s 5-1 defence was crucial in their performance, constantly hunting for balls and forcing Sweden to play from behind, as the Scandinavian side’s attack, which carried the team so far and helped secured six wins in six matches, was limited to only eight goals in the first 23 minutes of the second half.

At that point, Spain, the reigning world champions, were up ahead three goals, 29:26, with the help of their goalkeeper, David Failde Fuentes, who entered the court late in the first half, being crucial, as Failde Fuentes had nine saves for a 36% saving efficiency by that point.

And, in the end, it was indeed the defence which helped Spain, but also some crucial goals from Miiguel Martin and Quim Rocas, pushing “Los Hispanos” to a 33:30 win and a ticket to the final at Egypt 2025.

This will be Spain’s fourth finals berth in history at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, after the ones lost in 2011 and 2017 and the one won in the previous edition against Denmark.

Sweden lost their maiden match of this edition and will head to the bronze medal match, where they can secure the third position on the podium for the fourth time in history.

Player of the Match: Sergio Sanchez (Spain)