Despite all four eighth-final teams known before throw-off, the final three matches at the EgeTrans Arena were all direct deciders for final ranking positions in Preliminary Round Group B. 

In the early game, Poland breezed past Argentina 38:20 to ensure their fifth place while in the second game Hungary just did enough to keep in front of Czech Republic (30:29) to take third place. 

But the crowd will remember the very last moments of the last game at the venue as in a back-and-forth clash, Sweden took the honours in the end, winning 31:28 against title holders Norway.

GROUP B

Argentina vs Poland 20:38 (9:19)

The duel of the disappointed opened the final day of games at the EgeTrans Arena in Bietigheim-Bissingen as Poland ended their preliminary round campaign how they started – with a win. While their 33:30 win with Sweden on matchday one was impressive, this victory against the South Americans was more straightforward as both teams played a few gears below their highest standards, knowing they could not progress through to the eighth-finals.

The win meant Poland confirmed fifth place in the group and now travel to Leipzig for their President’s Cup campaign while Argentina move on to Magdeburg for their next match.

“On one side we have good reason to be happy, but on the other we haven't satisfied our own expectations,” said Poland coach Leszek Krowicki after the match. “It wasn't easy motivating my team and preparing them mentally for this game, but I’m pleased we have two more games here which will help the learning process with this new young team.”

Argentina coach Eduardo Peruchena took something out of the result, despite his side losing all five of their games in an extremely tough group for the South Americans.  “We lost too many balls and that complicated our game,” he said. “But I valued the last 15 minutes because my team was very motivated and showed a great attitude - they wanted to finish the match well.”

“It was a difficult game for us after we lost yesterday,” said Poland’s Monika Kobylinska. “We had to come out and rise our heads but right now we rebuild our team. We believe in ourselves and hopefully next year will be better for our team.”

Macarena Sans was philosophical in defeat for her Argentina side. “I'm happy to play these matches as they help us grow as a team. We learnt that we have to stop losing the ball, but we all know Argentina is a growing handball nation, which plays with heart and soul.”

Best player of the Match presented by adidas: Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc (POL)

Czech Republic vs Hungary 29:30 (14:17)

Despite leading for three quarters of this match, Hungary were made to sweat at the end as the Czech Republic mounted a late comeback, but it proved to not be enough as Kim Rasmussen’s Hungarian team confirmed third place in the group, thanks to an excellent performance from Bernadett Bodi.

The most impressive Czech player, Iveta Luzumova, had, quite literally, seized the initiative as her steal and pass helped her side to their first lead (4:3) in the eighth minute, a lead they would keep until the 25th as Hungary, in the middle of a 6:0 scoring run – started with a goal when they were down by two players - wrestled back control. But with the score at 26:22 in their favour with 11 minutes left, the Hungarian scoring ground to a halt as the last 10 minutes they were outscored 7:4 – including two unanswered Czech strikes in the final minute.

“I wish very good luck to Kim and his team for the eighth-finals,” said Czech Republic coach Jan Basny after the match. “I hope we will see better results for us in our eighth-finals.”

“I have very big respect for what the Czech Republic have built up,” said Hungary coach Kim Rasmussen. “They have a strong, solid side that just keeps going and this was a really tough game. We are very happy with the victory, I am happy how we fought, I am happy how we came back from being down in the first half, and now the championship begins – we are ready for it.”

Czech Republic goalkeeper Petra Kudlackova could take positives from the loss. “This defeat is really difficult for us,” she said. “I am really happy with the face that we showed today compared to our game yesterday against Norway. I hope we have more luck in the eighth-finals.”

“We are very happy with our third victory in a row,” said Hungary player Bernadett Bodi. “We fought very good as a team today and our team spirit is very good. We can go into the knockout phase in a good way. I would also like to thank all the Hungarian supporters for their support.”

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Bernadett BODI (HUN)

Norway vs Sweden 28:31 (18:16)

Long before Germany 2017 started, this match had been one fans in Bietigheim-Bissingen had singled-out in the diary as a potential classic, and it turned out to live up to the hype. Player of the match Bella Gullden opened the scoring and her toughness – along with that of her Swedish teammates – was praised by Norway’s coach as the key to victory for the team in yellow.

Thorir Hergeirsson had earlier in the tournament admitted he expected no team to make it through Germany 2017 unbeaten and so Norway lost their unbeaten record too against their neighbours. “They won the fight, they fought more, they had nothing to lose – everything to win,” he said. “They showed that they are a good team - they are underestimated by everybody.”
 
That fight saw the lead change hands numerous times throughout an action-packed 60 minutes, with Sweden down by two at half-time (18:16) and up by three in the end (31:28). But that does not tell the whole story.  Sweden pushed Hergeirsson to take his second time out by the 36th minute already after they had gone in front, 20:19, a lead they could keep for barely five minutes as Norway came back again (24:23). 

With Katrine Lunde in the Norway goal doing her best to keep Sweden at bay, her side went up by three (27:24) with 11 minutes left but Sweden came back again, going ahead 29:28 through Johanna Westberg with just under six minutes left, and in a game full of goals, only two more were scored – both by Sweden – as Louise Sand’s strike completed the victory.

“I am especially proud of my team,” said Sweden coach Henrik Signell. “They really believed in it and gave 100% but still it is not today’s game that counts, it is in the eighth-final.”

“We lost to the better team today,” said Norway’s Amanda Kurtovic. “There is nothing more to say.”

Sweden’s goalkeeper, Johanna Bundsen was equally as short with her post-match thoughts. “Thanks to Norway for this game,” she said. “We are really satisfied, and our defence was really good.”

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Bella GULLDEN (SWE)