The Netherlands secured the first place in the Group I of the main round at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, with a 31:29 win over the Switzerland, after a hard-fought battle between the two European sides.

MAIN ROUND
GROUP I
Netherlands vs Switzerland 31:29 (15:14)

The Netherlands and Switzerland were entering the last match of the main round both on a four-match winning streak, therefore the two European sides were playing for the first place in Group I and, theoretically, an easier path towards the title in the knockout phase.

But the team which started better was the Netherlands, with a 5:1 run spurred by right back Alieke van Maurik and left wing Lois van Vliet creating a big gap, which Switzerland needed to cancel as early as possible, in order to contend for the win. 

It was not a vintage performance from Switzerland, but they slowly got back into the match, with streaks from each team, as their performances ebbed and flowed, as a 3:0 run from Switzerland was cancelled by two 2:0 runs from the Netherlands. As van Vliet and van Maurik combined for nine goals in the first half, the Dutch side was still in the lead, 15:14, but by the smallest of margins.

Nine Switzerland players got on the scoresheet in the first 35 minutes, as the European side finally tied the score, 17:17, with centre back Nuria Bucher running the show, with three goals and three assists. But then again, the Netherlands had a pair of goals from van Vliet, to put them in a comfortable lead once again thanks to a 3:0 run, 20:17, with 22 minutes to go.

But the match was far from over. Switzerland threw everything they had to win, deploying a seven-on-six attack, which worked fine in some moments, as another 3:0 unanswered run cut the gap to a single goal, 24:23, with 12 minutes to go.

Once again, the Netherlands seemed to have delivered the win, only for centre back Jalisha Loy to miss a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, as Switzerland had the chance to tie the score, playing seven-on-five due to a suspension conceded by the Dutch side, yet left wing Alessia Riner missed a clear chance shot facing goalkeeper Nikki van der Vorst with 26 seconds to go.

With the last attack, the Netherlands took their time and eventually scored through line player Romée Maarschalkerweerd, who secured a 31:29 win for the Dutch side, their fifth in a row at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

Netherlands have now won Group I, with six points, and will face the second-placed team from Group III in the quarter-finals, which will either be France or Sweden. Switzerland, which will make the second consecutive appearance in the knockout phase at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, are due to face the winner of Group III.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Jalisha Loy (Netherlands)