The fourth day of competition saw the main round completed with 28 main and consolation round games across a packed day of games in Hammamet.

As the last matches finished just after 1900hrs (local time), with the sun low in the sky, Africa, Asia, Europe and South and Central America could all boast teams in the men’s and women’s last eight.

Oman put out title-holders, hosts Tunisia into last eight in men’s competition

By the end of the day, Germany, Spain, Hungary and Oman in group I and Brazil, Tunisia, Thailand and Argentina in group II were all in the final eight of the men’s competition, but for Oman in particular, it was a nervous finish to the main round.

In the end, their shoot-out win against 2022 champions – but last-minute additions to Tunisia 2025 – Croatia on the first day of main round action saw them through on six points, with their head-to-head counting – although they made hard work of it, defeating bottom side Puerto Rico via shoot-out to take their points tally to four, the same as Croatia, who also beat Puerto Rico today. Both Oman and Croatia lost to the European powerhouses of Hungary and Spain.

After Germany had beaten Oman earlier in the day, their game against Spain in the evening was a group title decider and the Germans did enough to squeeze past, winning 2-0 (22:20, 23:22). Arguably the best performances of the day in the group came from Puerto Rico, who will be kicking themselves, having chances to win sets against Hungary and Croatia, but falling just short.

The all non-European group saw the day start with both Argentina and Tunisia through already and it would end with a tense shoot-out between the two, the hosts winning 2-1 (16:15, 22:26, SO 8:6) after Argentina’s last shot went wide. It was a carnival atmosphere with both teams well-supported by their own sets of fans.

“I feel everything but alone. We’re a team – the best team in the world,” said Tunisia’s Hamza Zakhama to ihf.info after the game. “The crowd was with us and pushed us to the victory. It was a hard match, the first and second set were very close and we thought about nothing but winning; staying focussed so we can go further – we want to be the best in the world and have an objective: to go as far as we can.”

“The feelings I have are indescribable,” added teammate Ahmed Sfar to ihf.info. “Winning in your own country against teams with such deep roots in this sport – teams that have enough talent to speak for themselves – is something else. Just to be ranked alongside strong teams like Argentina and Uruguay is an honour. 

“We’ve always had faith in ourselves,” he explained about his feelings after losing to Brazil in their early game via another shoot-out. “Not just for one match, but since the beginning of the championship. That was just a misstep in our journey. We came back with a stronger will and gave a powerful response compared to the previous matches.

“It’s an unbelievable and indescribable feeling seeing your father, your family, your friends cheer for you. It’s a whole different kind of emotion.”

It was a tough day at the office for the Argentineans, who had lost their first game, via shoot-out to Thailand 2-1 (21:20, 16:32, SO 10:8), the win putting them up to four points, and then another South American shoot-out win for the Asian side, saw them finish third in the rankings, after defeating Uruguay 2-1 (16:24, 19:18, SO 6:2).

 

 

 

 

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It was the silent but deadly Brazilians who had the best day in the group, a day in which they had started third on four points. An 8:2 shoot-out win against Tunisia was followed by a tight first and clear second set win over Mexico 2-0 (21:20, 26:18) which saw them jump to the top of the table. Uruguay and Mexico finished fifth and sixth after the Mexicans lost both of their games, including a 2-0 loss against the Uruguayans.

After a day of rest for the Cook Islands, they opened their consolation round campaign against Kenya, both teams looking for their first-ever world championship set and win. And it would be the African side who prevailed, taking a 2-0 (20:14, 29:13) win.

Next up for the Oceania side were Senegal, buoyant after their first-ever win yesterday, against Kenya and they promptly recorded their second, taking a 2-0 (22:12, 18:8) victory.

For a look at the men’s statistics at Tunisia 2025 so far, click HERE.

Six European and two South American women’s sides make it through to quarters

The Netherlands made it six straight wings in a row – the only team at Tunisia 2025 in either competition who have not lost yet – with victories against France 2-1 (SO 9:6) and Brazil 2-0 to top main round group I.

If anyone is in doubt about their medal credentials, they should not be now with today sending a clear message to their rivals that the current European champions mean business and are well on their way to equalling their previous two silver medal positions in the youth world championship. Their win against France was a repeat of the YAC 16 EURO final which the Dutch won 2-0 last year.

Despite their two wins today against Thailand and France, via shoot-out, it was not enough for Germany to top the group, as they finished second. Behind them were France who had a hard day, losing both games via shoot-out, but their victory yesterday against China to put them up to six points was enough.

The Asian side also proved lucky for Brazil too, their 2-0 (19:16, 18:16) victory enough to push them on to four points, two ahead of Thailand for the final quarter-final spot. The all-Asian clash between the gold and silver medallists from their 2024 continental competition was an intense battle, despite neither side have a chance to make it into the last eight. Thailand managed to get some revenge after losing twice in Bangkok last year, impressing in the shoot-out to take a 2-1 (15:14, 21:22, SO 5:2) victory.

With a perfect record each, Hungary and the surprise-package Uruguay went into main round group II already secure in the quarter-finals, but both sides suffered defeats on the final day of main round action, Spain defeating Hungary 8:6 via shoot-out and then the Hungarians bouncing back to hand Uruguay their first defeat of Tunisia 2025, 2-0 (18:8, 23:18). This meant that Hungary, Spain and Uruguay all ended on eight points each, Hungary topping the group thanks to their +1 set difference in results between the three, followed by Spain (0) and Uruguay (-1).

But the real battle was for the final qualification spot and it went down to a mini-group between Croatia, Tunisia and Senegal, who all ended on two points after Tunisia had beaten Croatia in an epic shoot-out 12:10 and Croatia had beaten Senegal 2-0 (28:26, 25:18), with Senegal beating Tunisia yesterday. In the end it was the Croatians who went through thanks to their +1 set difference. If Senegal had taken the first set off of Croatia, which they lost by just two points, it would have then gone down to points, it was that tight.

At the same time Kenya’s men were winning on the adjoining court, Kenya’s women were winning against Mexico, running out 20 (17:16, 19:12) winners to also record their first-ever set and win at an IHF Beach Handball World Championship. Bulgaria added to their debut win yesterday with a 2-0 win over the Mexicans, who remain without a win.

Reflecting on a historic day for Kenya, women’s captain Grace Simiyu could not hide her excitement.

“I feel very good, because we have never won any match against a national team – it’s history and I am so proud to represent my country,” she said to ihf.info directly after her side won. “It’s a golden opportunity [for me], lots of players want to achieve this but they didn’t have that chance, so I’m very thankful to myself my family, my team and God.”

Her thoughts were echoed by men’s coach Maroko Boaz Obwaro, who also helps with the women’s team.

“I have never felt so great, it’s so good to win,” he said to ihf.info. “I told them, each one of them, to believe in ourselves. I told them to shoot more, attempt more shots in order to make chances ours. In our last game, against Bulgaria yesterday, we didn’t shoot as much and we lost, so I’m glad this worked out.

“We are improving,” he said. “We lost our first games and now we won one. We have learnt something, we have inputs, giving us more access to the game.

“They’re really happy,” he added about the women’s players. “They’re excited. I can say, for each one of them, this is a great opportunity. I’m sure they all have a chance in the senior team later. They are talented.”

For a look at the women’s statistics at Tunisia 2025 so far, click HERE.

All games can be watched again via the IHF YouTube Competitions channel.

Friday 20 June – Results
Men’s Competition

Main Round Group I
OMA vs GER 0-2 (18:23, 14:22)
ESP vs CRO 2-0 (16:10, 26:12)
PUR vs HUN 0-2 (24:25, 14:26)
ESP vs GER 0-2 (20:22, 22:23)
OMA vs HUN 0-2 (16:22, 16:22)
PUR vs CRO 0-2 (10:22, 18:19)

Main Round Group II
TUN vs BRA 1-2 (12:22, 22:18, SO 2:8)
THA vs ARG 2-1 (21:20, 16:32, SO 10:8)
MEX vs URU 0-2 (10:20, 16:22)
TUN vs ARG 2-1 (16:15, 22:26, SO 8:6)
THA vs URU 2-1 (16:24, 19:18, SO 6:2)
MEX vs BRA 0-2 (20:21, 18:26)

Consolation Round
COK vs KEN 0-2 (14:20, 13:29)
COK vs SEN 0-2 (12:22, 8:18)

Women’s Competition

Main Round Group I
BRA vs NED 0-2 (16:24, 16:19)
FRA vs GER 1-2 (12:26, 23:16, SO 6:9)
THA vs CHN 2-1 (15:14, 21:22, SO 5:2)
FRA vs NED 1-2 (16:19, 28:26, SO 6:9)
BRA vs CHN 2-0 (19:16, 18:16)
THA vs GER 0-2 (14:34, 16:30)

Main Round Group II
HUN vs ESP 1-2 (15:22, 20:18, SO 6:8)
SEN vs URU 0-2 (12:16, 14:24)
TUN vs CRO 2-1 (14:20, 22:16, SO 12:10)
HUN vs URU 2-0 (18:8, 23:18)
SEN vs CRO 0-2 (26:28, 18:25)
TUN vs ESP 0-2 (18:25, 12:34)

Consolation Round
MEX vs KEN 0-2 (16:17, 12:19)
MEX vs BUL 0-2 (14:32, 21:24)

With thanks to Lynda Ben Amara and Noe Calman for the player interviews.