Germany and Norway secured top-10 finishes at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, with wins in high-octane matches against Romania and Montenegro respectively, as the two matches produced 66 and 69 goals.

In the Placement Matches 13-16, the Republic of Korea delivered a big win against hosts North Macedonia, while Egypt clinched a closely-fought win in a fiery clash against the People’s Republic of China, 25:20.

PLACEMENT MATCHES 9-12
Romania vs Germany 32:34 (16:19)

Obviously disappointed by the failure to make it to the quarter-finals at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, Germany and Romania still aimed for a top-10 finish, which would be confirmed for the winner of this tie, the first of the day in the Jane Sandanski Sports Center.

While disappointed, the two teams still delivered an excellent match, an exciting one full of twists and turns, where both sides delivered at least 30 goals, but there could only be one winner, and that was Germany, the more clinical and the most effective team in crunch time.

Germany started the match with a better efficiency, firing from all cylinders, as Romania’s goalkeepers simply could not deter the opponent’s attack. However, Romania had their own ace upon their sleeve, with left back Diana Lixăndroiu providing her best outing so far at North Macedonia 2024 and keeping the score under wraps.

Soon enough, though, Germany improved in defence, while left back Matilda Ehlert and line player Ida Petzold became unstoppable, as Romania continued to leak goals, conceding 19 in the first half, on their way to a three-goal deficit at the break, 16:19.

However, Romania, the bronze medallist at the W19 EHF EURO 2023 last summer, woke up and Lixăndroiu started lightning up the board, finishing the match with nine goals and four assists. Centre back Alisia Boiciuc was once again crucial, with four goals and four assists, as the two scored 13 goals between them and assisted eight others.

As Germany rotated their team, Romania had a fantastic 6:2 run, turning the match on its head, thanks to two goals each from back Anamaria Grigore and right wing Beatrice Raicea. Taking in the lead for the first time in the 46th minute, 27:26, looked to improve Romania’s chances, but it was the final push from Simona Maior-Pașca’s side.

A seven-on-six approach for Romania in attack did not work, as Germany scored two open goal shots and opened a three-goal lead once again, 32:29, which proved unassailable, no matter how hard Romania tried, with Germany creating a two-match winning streak, after Wednesday’s win against China.

Germany will now face Norway in the Placement Match 9/10, while Romania are due to face Montenegro in their last match at North Macedonia 2024, with the winning team securing the 11th place.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Matilda Ehlert (Germany)

Norway vs Montenegro 42:27 (24:14)

This was not the clearest win in terms of goal difference at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship for Norway, yet it was the best performance from the Scandinavian side, which secured their 18th appearance in the top-10 in the world handball flagship competition at this age category.

Norway had always finished in the top-10 in the previous 17 appearances and while that record is not necessarily one which the Scandinavian side aimed to extend, rather than produce a well-rounded performance against Montenegro, they did it in style, with an absolutely fabulous first half.

Scoring 24 goals against any opponent is a big performance, as only Hungary and Switzerland managed it so far at North Macedonia 2024, but against Montenegro, Norway fired from all cylinders from the start of the match. In fact, the gap between the two sides was immense from the start and it was the defence which really helped Norway.

Throughout the whole match, Norway converted 11 fast breaks, while all but one of their outfield players scoring at least one goal, as they jumped to an early 14:8 lead after only 16 minutes and 40 seconds. Despite Montenegro’s best attempts to clear a path towards the win, their defence was totally collapsed and there was no chance of redeem in the second half.

Norway continued to push, with backs Mathea Enger, Jenny Bing Husaas and wings Selin Kamburce and Pia Gronstad each scoring five goals, as the gap grew bigger and bigger in the second half, with the Scandinavian side breaking the 40-goal mark for the first time since 2016, when they beat Uzbekistan, 54:16.

Montenegro could only reply through Jelena Vukčević, who broke once again the 10-goal mark, with an excellent 12-goal performance, as the right back and captain improved her overall tally to 68 goals in the competition, 20 goals more than any other player.

However, Vukčević could not prevent Montenegro’s heaviest loss at North Macedonia, 27:42, as Norway secured a top-10 placement, while Montenegro play against Romania in the Placement Matches 11/12.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Jelena Vukčević (Montenegro)




PLACEMENT MATCHES 13-16
Egypt vs People’s Republic of China 25:20 (13:12)

After three straight losses against the European teams (Switzerland, Netherlands and Romania), Egypt finally bounced back with a 25:20 win over the People’s Republic of China, which saw them advancing to the Placement Match 13/14, while the Asians will go to the Placement Match 15/16.

Egypt won thanks to a strong second-half performance after a close battle before the break. The Chinese opened the game with a 3:0 run, but the African team improved their defence and scored six unanswered goals to take a 6:3 lead. 

However, the People’s Republic of China showed some fighting spirit drew level at 6:6, and they went on to put pressure on their opponents. The teams were still tied at 12:12, two seconds from the break, before Shrouk Mahmoud Elsheref's goal gave Egypt a one-goal lead at half-time.

The African side improved after the second half, as superb defence and a string of saves from Gihad Wael Sayed helped them to increase the gap to six goals, 21:15, by minute 45. Sayed ultimately registered 14 saves for a 42% efficiency, and left wing Marian Omar Ibrahim netted eight times, helping their team to celebrate a win. 

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Gihad Wael Sayed, Egypt

Republic of Korea vs North Macedonia 34:19 (17:10)

The Asian champions had also been on a three-losing streak prior to this encounter, but they proved too strong for North Macedonia and rook a well-deserved win by 15 goals. So the Republic of Korea will meet Egypt in the Placement Match 13-14, and the home side will meet the People's Republic of China in the Placement Match 15-16.

Both teams exchanged goals early in the match, as the Republic Korea had a just one-goal advantage in the 14th minute, 6:5. But propelled by Sujeon Park, the Asians then enjoyed a 4:0 run to pull clear. At halt-time, they already had a seven-goal advantage, leaving North Macedonia a mountain to climb.

After the restart, the Republic of Korea continued to have the upper hand. The Koreans scored 17 times in each half, and it was left back Jia Kim who became their top scorer in the end with a tally of eight goals. Borjana Koceva was the leading scorer with six goals for her team, but she was unable to prevent her team from conceding a loss. 

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Jia Kim, Republic of Korea