One of the tightest matches so far at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship was won by Germany, which kept their cool until the end of the match and secured a 29:27 win, which delivered them a main round berth.

GROUP F
Germany vs Spain 29:27 (17:16)

A win would have sent Germany through, alongside France, in the main round, therefore the match was crucial for Spain, which had a do-or-die match ahead of them, with great chances of progression for themselves, provided they secured a win.

Just like in the previous match against France, they delivered an exciting start of the match, but Germany took an early lead, 3:1, on the back of two goals scored by left wing Alina Gaubatz, with left back Nieke Kühne also chiming in with four goals during the first half.

But Spain were the ones in the lead for most of the time, as left back Ester Somaza Bosch constantly found ways to punish the opposing defence, with some exquisite breakthroughs, for which Germany had no answer.

However, Germany kept their cool and despite failing to capitalise on Spain’s errors, they still took the lead late in the match, opening a two-goal lead once again, 17:15, with centre back Lisa Fuchs scoring twice and assisting two goals in the last minutes, to help her side lead at the break.

It was Spain failing to take advantage of a Germany suspension which really hampered them, as Christopher Nordmeyer’s team scored twice while being shorthanded, as Spain’s defence, which constantly shapeshifted throughout the first half, was seriously put under stress.

The scenario looked to be the same for Spain like in the previous match, against France, where they led in the first half, but mistakes and lack of efficiency in front of the goal hampered their efforts, inviting the opponents to dominate the score and force “Las Guerreras” to constantly fight to get back into the match.

But Spain bounced back admirably, keeping the fort down when Germany had the chance to open a three-goal gap, thrice blocking their opponents and staying in the match. After centre back Eider Poles Olucha scored eight times in 42 minutes, the score was still tied, 23:23, with the two teams continuing to trade goals.

The pressure got to both sides, as Germany and Spain failed to score for more than six minutes between the 51st and the 57th minutes, with a stream of turnovers and missed chances preventing the score to change. However, with less than three minutes to go, the score was still tied, 27:27, and everything to play for.

It was Germany which secured the better finish, after a roller-coaster of a match, with goalkeeper Marie Kristin Weiss registering three saves in the last four minutes, while line player Ariana Pfundstein scored the last goal of the match to take a 29:27 win and send Germany into the main round.

A dejected Spain team, which fought hard throughout the first two matches but lost against France and Germany, are now out of contention for a main round spot, and will feature against Serbia on Saturday, in the last match of the preliminary round.

Germany, which fought hard for this win, are two out of two, and will face France in the clash which will decide the winner of the group and the team which will start with two points in the main round.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Eider Poles Olucha (Spain)