Japan secured a 22:18 win against Poland to clinch a quarter-finals berth, while Denmark and Germany sealed the first place in their groups, by digging deep and scoring crucial goals in the last seconds in their matches against Montenegro and Spain respectively.

Main round, Group II  
Germany vs Spain 29:28 (13:18)

Two European heavyweights met in the battle for first place in main round Group II, as the reigning W19 EHF EURO champions Germany took on Spain, who secured a quarter-final spot for the first time since 2008. That achievement boosted the Spaniards' confidence, and they looked sharper in the first half.

After only eight minutes, Spain had opened a four-goal lead, forcing Germany into an early team time-out. However, the break did little to change the momentum, as Germany were struggling on both ends of the court. Through line player Kadidiatou Jallow Diallo, Spain stretched the gap even further to 11:6 in the 15th minute.

Germany paid the price for a series of attacking mistakes and needed time to settle down and rediscover the level they had shown earlier in the competition. They eventually reduced a seven-goal deficit to 12:15 in the 23rd minute, but Spain remained more composed. With greater attacking efficiency and a well-organised defence, they headed into half-time with a comfortable five-goal advantage.

The second half changed everything as Germany mounted an incredible comeback, built on their seven-against-six attack and a much-improved defensive display, which also allowed goalkeeper Lina Steinecke to shine between the posts. The decisive spell came between the 46th and 58th minutes, leaving Spain completely stunned. The Spaniards failed to convert chance after chance, even missing opportunities with an empty net in front of them, while Germany capitalised on almost every attack.

Fuelled by a remarkable 6:0 unanswered run, Germany grabbed their first lead of the match with less than two minutes to go and held on until the final whistle, despite Spain fighting back and levelling. Chiara Rohr scored her fifth goal of the game almost on the buzzer to seal a dramatic 29:28 victory and first place in the group ahead of their quarter-final clash.

Player of the Match: Lina Steinecke (Germany)

Main round, Group III  
Denmark vs Montenegro 32:32 (16:16)

Denmark and Montenegro produced an entertaining and evenly contested first half in their battle for top spot in main round Group III. Montenegro enjoyed a blistering start, racing into a 3:0 lead and keeping Denmark scoreless for the opening seven minutes, with hummel Player of the Match Martina Knežević and Ivana Savić leading the way in attack.

Thanks to that impressive opening, Montenegro managed to stay in front and withstand Denmark's growing pressure for most of the first half. The turning point came around the 20th minute when Denmark adjusted their defence and introduced goalkeeper Maria Liv Dahl Koerth in place of Freja Fonseca Nielsen, who immediately made her presence felt with four saves from nine shots, helping Denmark erase the deficit. The teams eventually went into the break level at 16:16, although Montenegro had one final opportunity to take the lead into half-time but failed to convert it.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both teams taking slender leads. Denmark grabbed their first lead of the match immediately after the restart and gradually built a three-goal cushion (22:19), led by Kristine Emilie Hoppe and Isabella Jensen. But once Montenegro found their rhythm again, they stepped up the tempo and levelled the score at 25:25 in the 47th minute.

The closing stages turned into a goal-for-goal battle, and with 40 seconds remaining, the score stood at 31:31. Montenegro scored after a team time-out and looked set to take the win, but Denmark found a way through the defence to equalise at 32:32. Montenegro still had one final opportunity from a free throw with the buzzer, but this time they could not produce another spectacular finish.

After the draw, now with five points each in the standings, Denmark secured first place in the group thanks to a better overall goal difference, while Montenegro advanced to the quarter-finals as the second-placed team.

Player of the Match: Martina Knežević (Montenegro)

Main Round, Group IV
Poland vs Japan 18:22 (10:13)

After two straight defeats in the competition, Japan got back on the winning track at the right time, as a victory in a do-or-die battle against Poland helped them progress to the quarter-finals with four points. In turn, the Polish side, who had a perfect record in the group stage, lost a chance to reach the top eight following this defeat, as they have just two points.

The Japanese made a strong statement early in the match, opening up a commanding 9:2 lead in the 13th minute. By scoring all her five goals in this game before the break, Futaba Ikeda led their attack, while Hana Osaki made some crucial saves, denying Poland time after time.

The Europeans needed a timeout to improve their shooting efficiency, and a strong 5:0 run in the next seven minutes kept them in the fight. However, Japan did not give up their lead, boasting a three-goal advantage at the interval.

Poland continued to put the pressure on their rivals early in the second half, before more Osaki saves — she had 11 in the match for a 41% save efficiency — propelled Japan to a 4:1 run, securing a 20:15 lead in the 50th minute.

It was a low-scoring game, and neither side managed to score a single goal in the next five minutes before the Asians ultimately clinched a four-goal win. Poland, who were limited to just a 43% shooting efficiency, will play in the Placement Matches 9-12 or Placement Matches 13-16, depending on the result of the Hungary vs Norway match.

Player of the Match: Hana Osaki (Japan)