The preliminary round of the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship 2024 starting to heat up. After eight sides - Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Egypt, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Romania, Denmark and Norway - secured their spot in the main round on Thursday, several other teams have an opportunity to do the same on Friday.

North Macedonia, Iceland, Sweden, Czechia, Germany, France, Montenegro and Portugal have done half of the job, winning on the first day of the competition and the second win in a row can book their ticket for the main round. However, they will not have an easy job, especially Germany and France in Group F, an all-European affair, with Spain and Serbia completing the table. North Macedonia and Iceland are both coming with two points into the mutual clash and could further complicate the situation in group H.

GROUP E
13:30 CEST Algeria vs Sweden

African side had a good start at North Macedonia 2024, in spite of their 17:23 loss against Czechia. The African fought hard and even took the lead in the second half, forcing Czechia to sweat for an important win. This is the fifth time Algeria are at the world flagship competition and only once did they rank below 16th place - in 2003 when they were 19th.

A trip into the President's Cup is on the cards and if they want to keep the door to the main round open they have to step up a gear against favourite Sweden. Players like Maya Fettani and Lyna Yelles will be crucial in orchestrating their attack and goalkeeper Zineb Yousra Haddad will need an excellent match in defence in order for Algeria to stand a chance.

Sweden, as one of the favourites, are coming into the game for the second straight win and could secure a main round berth with another win. Having boosted confidence after a dominant 38:24 win over the People's Republic of China, the Swedish side will try to further improve their quick transitions and clinical finish.

Having almost every player in the squad scoring on the first day, Sweden will be powerful from every position with right back Thea Kylberg and centre back Emma Mihailovic being the main engines of the fifth-best team from the W19 EHF EURO 2023.

15:45 CEST Czechia vs People's Republic of China

Czechia, just like Sweden, have an open door to the main round, which was one of their main objectives ahead of the start of the competition. Entering the game on a positive note after a solid 23:17 victory over Algeria, the European side relies on their string defensive setups.

Goalkeeper Kristýna Stojarová, the Alkaloid Player of the Match in the win against Algeria, had a 46% saving efficiency and will need more of the same if Czechia are to secure another win. On the other hand, the People's Republic of China is looking to rebound after a 38:24 defeat against Sweden. They have shown some good flashes of potential and can always case problems for their opponents.

Finishing second at the 2023 AHF Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship maybe came as a surprise, but that is the reason why China should be taken seriously. Right wing Hongyan Zhuang is most definitely China's biggest strength and she proved that by scoring eight times out of 12 attempts in the first game against Sweden.

GROUP F

15:45 CEST Serbia vs France

France could secure a main round berth, if they beat yet another fellow European side. Coming after a solid 30:25 win over Spain, France was on point in the crucial moments of the game, showing the ability to perform under pressure when Spain began to close the gap.

Seven goals by Lylou Borg and Enola Borg's six goals are proof that the strong backcourt line carries half of the work for France. Individual quality could have a significant impact on the outcome and result as Serbia still has to show what they are capable of.

The Serbian team suffered a heavy 18:39 loss against Germany, but have shown there are potential and will look to regroup and keep up with more experienced opponents for as long as possible. If they fail to do so, they will continue in the President's Cup for the first time at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship since their first appearance in 2010. The two sides also met at the W19 EHF EURO 2023 when France won 33:22.

18:00 CEST Germany vs Spain

Germany are in a good position to progress further and will most certainly try to confirm that against Spain. However, being seeded into one of the toughest groups at the competition, they will not have it easy. On Friday, they are entering the fray against Spain who is looking to bounce back after a 25:30 loss to France.

Spain showed resilience and good strategic play, with players like Carmen Arroyo Pimienta proving their worth. Yet, the European side has to be more efficient if they are to pressure Germany and seal a vitan win.

Therefore, Spain's potential for an upset cannot be underestimated. This will be the first real test for Germany, which are coming after a clear 39:18 win against Serbia. In the first game they were better in every aspect of the game, from offensive strength to defensive prowess. All 14 outfield players scored at least once in that game with both goalkeepers having their say between the posts.

GROUP G

11:15 CEST Montenegro vs Guinea

Montenegro are looking to continue their strong form and book their place among the 16 top teams. In a high-scoring game against Uzbekistan where they scored 48 times, Montenegro enjoyed a great start.

However, being so efficient in the attack slowed down the defence in a way, especially when new players entered the court and Uzbekistan managed to score the largest number of goals in their history at the World Championship, 32.

Same should be expected against Guinea, the underdog in this duel. The main setback for the African team could be their turnovers. In the first game against Portugal, they made 25, which put them at the top of the turnovers list after day one. Guinea's key player is centre back Mariama Bangoura, who scored only four times but she had six other attempts and four assists.

13:30 CEST Uzbekistan vs Portugal

Uzbekistan's defence was not up for the task against Montenegro, even though they tried different versions and were shifting from regular 6-0 to 3-2-1 and 5-1. Yet, they can be proud of their attack, one of the best they have shown so far in their short history of the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

Portugal are in good momentum after a convincing 32:18 win against Guinea. Their well-organized defence and well-balanced attack led by Carmen Figueiredo and Lola Ribeiro were crucial for an easy-going opener on Wednesday.

With Portugal having the upper hand and a chance to book their main round presence, they will go all-in from the first minute to ensure a significant lead already in the first half. With their disciplined approach and good ball handling that should not be a problem, as Portugal look set to clinch a main round berth.

GROUP H

18:00 CEST North Macedonia vs Iceland

It will be an interesting clash of group H as the two top teams face each other. Both hosts North Macedonia and Iceland opened the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship with a win and both will enter the fray with the same expectations - winning and securing the main round spot. The high stakes will add an extra layer of intensity to the game.

Led by Vardar's right back Borjana Koceva and Metalurg's right back Iva Mladenovska, who make the perfect duo, the hosts have high hopes. North Macedonia have a chance to qualify for the main round which they only succeeded in 2003 when they finished eighth. In their only two other appearances, they were 17th and 18th, so Darko Janev's team have a great chance  on their home soil. 

Iceland rely on their promising talents Katrín Ásmundsdóttir and Elín Thorkelsdóttir with solid goalkeeping from Ethel Bjarnasen. They have a balanced approach to the game and fast pace which could be crucial against North Macedonia. The two sides met already at the W19 EHF EURO 2023 in a high-scoring game. Icelandic players won 35:29 after keeping the halftime lead (20:15).

11:15 CEST United States of America vs Angola

One team can get their hands on the first victory in the competition after losing the opening games and stay in the combinations for the main round. Experienced Angola are favourites in this case coming into the game as 2023 CAHB African Women's Junior Championship winners. 

Angola still have a lot to show at the 2024 IHF Women's Junior World Championship despite losing against Iceland 19:24. Relying on their physicality and speed, Angola will have to transfer it on the court. Their whole game depends on centre back Jorcela Tumba, who scored 11 in the first game.

The United States of America are still a work in progress, as proven in the first match, but will try to do everything in their power to keep Angola at bay and limit the damage in this match.

Their back court line also has some trouble aiming as Emma Ready scored five out of 12 attempts and left back Lovisa Dobreff two times from seven shots. However, when you compare their 24 turnovers to Angola's 11, it is clear Angola could use their fast break to make a break against the USA and win.