EIGHTH-FINALS

GETEC-Arena, Magdeburg

Russia vs Korea 17:30 local time

Russia last met Korea competitively in August, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as they opened their 2016 Olympic Games campaign with a 30:25 win. At half-time, no-one would have thought they would be looking at the European side as gold medal winners as they were 13:12 down, but the Russians fought back to take the win and a further seven, on their way to glory.

Statistically, Russia enter the eighth-finals as the strongest team at Germany 2017 having won all five of their preliminary group games (Tunisia – 36:16, Montenegro – 28:24, Brazil – 24:16, Japan – 29:28, Denmark – 32:27) – the only team to do so. This has been thanks in large part to Daria Samokhina, their top-scorer with 25 goals and tight defence, marshalled by the goalkeeping pairing of Elena Utkina and Viktoriia Kalinina who have a combined save rate of 35% (61 saves from 172 shots).

Korea lost two of their preliminary round matches against teams who both exited the tournament yesterday in Magdeburg – Germany and Serbia, but they were impressive in their opening day win against Netherlands (24:22). They also beat traditional continental rivals China (31:19) and Cameroon.

Goalscoring duties are split between Sojeong Yu (21 goals), Migyeong Lee (20) and Eun Hee Ryu (19) while main goalkeeper Saeyoung Park has a 41% ratio (37/90).

Japan vs Netherlands 20:30 local time

In the second Asia vs Europe clash, Japan take on the 2015 IHF Women’s World Championship silver medallists Netherlands. 

The Japanese have been warming up nicely for the next edition of this championships to be held in Japan (2019), with an impressive win over quarter-finalists Montenegro (29:28) in the preliminary round, combined with victory over Tunisia and a draw against Brazil. 

Despite two losses – one clearly, against Denmark (32:18) and a very close encounter with Russia, losing 29:28 – the Japanese, led by Danish coach Ulrik Kirkely have impressed so far and will hope the Netherlands have an off day which has affected the European sides’ campaign to date.

Having already lost to an Asian side in their preliminary group (24:22 vs Korea), Helle Thomsen knows her Dutch team will need more impressive performances like their dominance against Germany in their final group match (31:23). Wins against China and Cameroon were expected, but a 27:27 draw against Serbia was a sign that the team in orange still have work to do.

Leading that fight will be Lois Abbingh who has top-scored with 30 goals for Netherlands and number one choice goalkeeper Tess Wester, who has saved 38 of the 114 shots faced to enter the eighth-finals with a 33% save rate. Wester, like many of her teammates, play their club handball in Germany and should have strong support from the crowd which could prove to be crucial in what is sure to be a close game.

In 2005, Netherlands beat Japan in the preliminary round of the IHF Women’s World Championship in Russia, 35:27. Top scorer on that day for the Dutch with eight goals was Pearl van der Wissel, who was added to the Dutch squad yesterday and who will be hoping for a repeat performance today.

21-24 PLACEMENT MATCHES

21/22 Place: Paraguay vs China 14:00 local time

With a win in this match, Paraguay will equal their best-ever finish in a women’s world championship, but for their coach Neri Ruben Vera the final ranking is not the main consideration.

“We want to give our young players more international experience because we think that is what we need,” he said after they beat their rivals Argentina in the first round of 21-24 placement matches yesterday. “In Paraguay we play a very different type of handball so every time we can meet a European style of playing is very important because we have a lot of players who are only 18 or 19. 

“You cannot stress enough how important this experience is. We want them to experience these games, so we can change and develop handball in Paraguay.”

His opposite number Jesper Holmris knows his China team have a long way to go to equal their eighth-place in 1990, under the old competition system, but he is also aware that their first win at Germany 2017 – against Tunisia yesterday – could be the stepping stone for another victory today.

“It was very good for the self-confidence to win,” he said. “It was a very close game and it could have gone either way. We’ve been happy with our last two games, but I think it is getting a little bit hectic because we see the tiredness in our players.”

23/24 Place: Argentina vs Tunisia 11:30 local time

No team wants to finish last, but whoever loses this early account will have the unwelcome honour.

“We had a very difficult preliminary round,” understated Argentina coach Eduardo Peruchena after his side lost to Paraguay yesterday, in reference to facing five European teams in the preliminary round. 

“We had a lot of emotions and a lot of physical fatigue which cost us a lot of energy with all the work that we did to come here. We’re playing with a very new team, which has changed since the Olympic Games and they still need to learn a lot, especially on a technical level, but we want to try and win every game and the focus is on our next one.”

Tunisia enter the match with just 14 players out of 16 allowed after two of their big players, Mouna Chebbah and Senda Chekir both picked up injuries in the preliminary round. 

“We do not have two of our best players but were tried our best to replace the power they have,” said Tunisia’s Manel Kouki after their loss to China yesterday. “It was a very good match and it will help us for the future, but China are very good and can hopefully get further in the next competition. We did not play well today, and it was difficult for us to win in spite of our turnaround in the second half.”

Tunisia Technical Director Yessine Arfa also bemoaned missing the two influential players. “Mouna has hurt her hand and quadriceps and we are going home to see our doctor and we wait to see what they say,” he said. “We lost against China because we had a very low efficiency of the goalkeepers and made some big mistakes in defence, which are the main reasons why we did not win. 

“Our team consists of very young players and we need these games to improve our experience, to learn and how to play games when the score is close. We have learnt many things here.”