In an intense battle full of twists and turns, Switzerland clinched a crucial 30:28 win over Poland and grabbed the last main round ticket in Group A of the preliminary round. Both teams fought hard in front of the fans in Jyske Bank Boxen, Denmark, but Switzerland's defensive display in crucial moments lifted them past Poland, which will travel to Poreč for the Presidents' Cup.

GROUP A
Poland vs Switzerland 28:30 (15:18)

In a high-stakes clash, both Poland and Switzerland felt the weight of the game right from the start. Poland had a good start, with young goalkeeper Marcel Jastrzębski making two early saves to push his team to a lead, but Switzerland answered very soon, tightening their defence and pulling off a 3:0 run to take the lead, 5:4.

Poland briefly regained their lead but struggled to maintain consistency, as both teams fell into a series of hasty attacks and turnovers. For almost five minutes, neither side could find the net, until Switzerland's left wing Noam Leopold ended the negative run with a great in-flight goal. It gave Switzerland their first two-goal lead and huge momentum.

Again, Poland found a new impetus to make a new goal run with the help of Michał Olejniczak, but they could not keep the momentum going. Switzerland's defensive display caused them problems and allowed Switzerland to use another 3:0 unanswered run and set a promising halftime lead of three goals, 18:15.

Switzerland meant business — having a fulcrum in Felix Aellen they were off to a blistering start to the second half. They further extended their lead to 21:15 and it looked like they were on a good path to an important victory. However, it was far from over. Poland mounted a furious comeback on the back of  Damian Przytuła who was instrumental for his side, levelling to 22:22 by the 44th minute, giving a fantastic in the Jyske Bank Boxen, Denmark.

But then, Switzerland's goalkeeper, Nikola Portner, was right there when his team needed him. In decisive moments of the game who stopped Poland's attack, even from fast breaks, and helped his team to build a lead in the closing stages of the game.

When Medhi Ben Romdhane scored for 30:26 two and a half minutes before the buzzer, it was obvious Switzerland, who got to the IHF Men's World Championship through a wild card, would progress to the main round, pushing Poland to the Presidents' Cup. Since appearing at the World Championship in 1958, Poland found themselves in the Presidents' Cup only once — in 2017.

Dimitrij Küttel and the hummel Player of the Match, Lenny Rubin, added five each in Switzerland's important win, while Damian Przytuła led Poland with nine goals, including the last two goals to soothe the defeat.

hummel Player of the Match: Lenny Rubin (Switzerland)