With just over a month before the start of the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, the 32 participating teams are entering the final straight of preparation, with four of the European sides taking part in the competition facing off last weekend in Switzerland, in a friendly competition, the Airport Trophy.

The reigning champions, Germany, plus Spain, France and hosts Switzerland faced off in three days of competition, as all of the teams are eyeing for a good result in Poland, where the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship will take place between 18 and 29 June in four venues.

In the first day of competition, France controlled the match against Switzerland and capitalised on their 13:10 lead at half-time, taking a 32:28 win in the end of the match. In the other match of the day, Germany went toe-to-toe with Spain, but eventually conceded a 29:30 loss.

In the second day, the strong Spanish side, the generation which won the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, dominated Switzerland, taking a strong 19:13 lead at the break and providing another good second half to clinch a 32:26 win and set up a “final” against France in the last matchday.

France delivered Germany yet another one-goal loss, 31:30, in the last match of the day, after a fantastic comeback for the French side, which did not score a goal in the first nine minutes and went down, 0:5. Germany led at the break, 12:11, and also with 15 minutes to go, 24:22, but France were stronger and clinched their second win in two matches.

The last day saw Germany secure their maiden win in the competition, 36:24, as Tim Gömmel scored eight gpals, securing the third place. But which team won the Airport Trophy?

It was Spain, which eventually took a 27:23 win, powered by an excellent performance from the MVP of the competition, Javier Miñambres Calvo. France’s Stanis Soullier had an overall saving efficiency of 40%, while Switzerland’s Nikos Sarlos was the top scorer of the Airport Trophy 2025.

The 2025 IHF Men's Junior World Championship will take place in Poland between 18 and 29 June in Poland. Germany and Switzerland are part of Group G, alongside Tunisia and Serbia, while Spain are in Group H, alongside Egypt, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. France will face Denmark, Morocco and Mexico in Group E.

Credit photo: Swiss Handball Association