Two consolation round matches and six main round games will bring a conclusion to the fourth day of action at the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship on Friday.

After recording their first-ever IHF Beach Handball World Championship win at any level in either gender yesterday, against India, Hong Kong play Romania in the consolation round with the European team coach Florin Ciupitu telling us yesterday they are looking to win the 9-16 placement round.

India are still searching for their first win at Greece 2022 and their first-ever IHF Beach Handball World Championship win as a nation too. They play Uruguay in the opening game this morning, with the South Americans looking for their first Greece 2022 win too – and their first-ever Youth Beach Handball World Championship victory with it.

The main round features a mouthwatering clash and a clear championship highlight so far: at 16:00, Hungary play Spain on the central court in Main Round Group I. Both teams have won all five of their games so far and are just two of the three total teams in both the men’s and women’s championships here in Heraklion to go unbeaten, along with Argentina.

By 16:30 one of them will have continued that record and one will see it end. Hungary are the 2017 World Championship title holders and have only ever lost one match in Youth Beach Handball World  Championship history – a shoot-out loss against Netherlands back in the debut edition in 2017.

Spain have the better record, just. All five of their wins have been 2-0 victories, while Hungary have been taken to one shoot-out, against Brazil yesterday.

It goes without saying that on eight points each, Spain and Hungary long secured their quarter-final spots, while Brazil in third (four points) – and having only lost to them both – are through too. The fourth and final spot will be confirmed on Friday with the outcomes of Poland versus Ukraine and Thailand versus Brazil deciding that.

Should Thailand win, they need Ukraine – who they beat yesterday in a shoot-out – to beat Poland which will ensure their safe passage through.

Group II is simple. One place remains open for the quarter-finals and it will be decided by one match: France versus Greece. The winner will grab the final last eight spot and the host nation will be hoping it is them.

The third unbeaten championship team are Argentina and they will face, perhaps, their toughest test so far, against Netherlands. Yesterday, the 2018 Youth Olympic Games winners were stretched against Germany but took a shoot-out win.

The Germans face Puerto Rico, a side who have lost all their main round games 0-2 so far, their sole victory at Greece 2022 coming in their preliminary round play-off against Hong Kong, via a shoot-out.