Brazil take on Norway and Sweden play Denmark in a Scandinavian derby on the first day of 5-8 placement matches at the 2015 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship. 

Brazil vs Norway 11:00 local time

Both Brazil and Norway came into the Eighth-Finals as the third-ranked team in a difficult group. Brazil placed behind Slovenia and France in Group D, while Norway were third after Iceland and Spain – the four teams qualified for the Semi-Finals. 

Brazil’s group phase performance was not demonstrative of what they are capable of – they played far better in the Eighth-Final to record a surprise win against Russia, making their way to the Quarter-Finals where they were eliminated after a well-played game versus Iceland, though they really struggled against the Scandinavian team’s defence. 

Norway are a similar team to Iceland, with big back players in Eirik Kopp and Magnus Abelvik Roed, along with other powerful, accurate shooters such as in Simen Nicola Schoenningsen and wings like tricky Tormod Hauane. Their defence is excellent and they naturally play a Scandinavian style that Brazil might find difficult considering the outcome of their game against Iceland. 

The Pan American team have some real weapons in their arsenal however, such as the seventh-ranked goalkeeper in the competition with 59 saves at a 34.2% save rate, Rangel Luan Rosa, and strong shooters like Gabriel Ceretta Jung. 

Sweden vs Denmark 13:15 local time

Having fallen at near the final hurdle, this Scandinavian clash promises to be a passionate affair, if going by the memories of Norway’s earlier Scandinavian clash against Iceland in the Preliminary Round ring loud in what was a heated match with coaches and players involved in altercations throughout that game.

After drawing against a Polish side in their best performance at Russia 2015, Sweden’s path was set to face France in the quarter-finals and they had no answer to their physical strength, pace and quickness of thought, losing 35:28.

Left-back Felix Claar - described as the “Ice Man” by his coach Ulf Nystrom - is top scorer for the Swedes on 38 goals and he is supported at the back by the goalkeeping duo of Andreas Bjorkman and Fredrik Landin who have a steady 37.4% save rate between them.

Denmark, who also had a group draw - against hosts Russia - which set them on a path to face Spain in the quarter-finals, could not find a way past goalkeeper Xoan Ledo who ended that game for Spain with a 50% save rate as his side won 23:18.

The Danes lack of creativity around the Spanish defence cost them dear in that game but they have their own ‘Minister of Defence’ in Emil Neilsen, their goalkeeper who has a total of 47.5% saves to shots and who has also set-up for Danish goals on the fast-break.

Coach Morten Henriksen did not start the quarter-final with Neilsen, but bought him on later as Spain started to open their lead.

Hoping to open a lead for the Danes today will be left back Lasse Moller who has scored 37 goals and tops the Danish scoring charts (fourth overall at the tournament), along with centre back Nicolaj Norager on 31 goals.

Moller also tops the blocking charts, with 10 to his name so far.