17/18 Placement Match (Final) – Germany vs Qatar 29:27 (18:11)

How the 60 minutes between these two sides would play out was an interesting question before the first whistle – but Germany answered it immediately. Moritz Schade got his team started with a fast break, and when left back Marian Michalczik scored a superb back shot in the fifth to put the score at 3:1 Germany were already looking very dominant. 

Qatar coach Julian Gomez called the first time-out of the game when Germany led by four (5:1, seventh minute), but it did little to help. Goalkeeper Joel Birlehm was exceptional and Qatar’s shooters were having a lot of trouble getting past him – after 16 minutes Germany led by eight (10:2) and the game looked all but over already.

Qatar’s Mohamed Abdelraouf scored four goals in the period to help his team reach a more respectable score (13:7, 23rd minute), but the first 30 minutes were all Germany and they finished the half with a seven-goal advantage. 

When the second period began it was Ahmed Abdelrhem in goal in place of Bozo Subotic, who joined Qatar’s list of 16 ahead of their previous game. Qatar managed a 1:5 run that prompted Germany coach Christian Schwarzer to call a time-out in the 37th (19:16) before his team pulled ahead again.  

A spectacular fast break goal from left wing Lucas Mertens (seven goals), put Germany six in front as the match neared its final 15 minutes (23:17). Germany were not on their best game as the clock ticked down, allowing Qatar to come back within two goals, but they held on to the final whistle to win the cup and take 17th place on the final ranking.

Germany coach Christian Schwarzer summarised their Russia 2015 campaign after the match: 

“The tournament was very difficult and we are very disappointed to play in the President’s Cup. I think it’s not our level to play for 17th – the German team should be playing the Eighth-Finals, the Quarter-Finals and better the Semi-Finals. 

“We had a very difficult group with Iceland and Spain – three of the teams are in the Quarter- Finals. We started very badly in the first match against Iceland, were better against Venezuela, had a good game against Norway but lost by two goals. It was good against Spain and we lost against Egypt in the last second with a direct throw from the centre.

“We have to work hard with the young guys to get better.”
 
23/24 Placement Match – Chile vs Algeria 24:33 (8:18)

Algeria secured 23rd place on the final ranking with a big win over Chile in the first President’s Cup match of the day at Divs Palace of Sports. 

The game belonged to them from the first whistle to the last. After five minutes of play they led by three goals (1:4). Chile goalkeeper Matias Canton Maingon made a penalty save in the eighth minute as well as the next Algeria attack to keep the score where it was – but not for long. Algerian went on to steadily increase the score line and hold a six-goal advantage at the 20-minute mark (5:11). 

With five minutes left in the half Algeria hit a 10-goal lead with a fast break by Djeghaba Nidhal Baha, and Chile changed out their keeper to bring in B. J. Fernandez Urutia. 

At half-time Algeria kept the same goal difference, and when the match resumed they too substituted their keeper to bring in Sekkai Oussama for Rassa Nadher. The African side maintained their advantage throughout the second period, and when they were in front by 11 after 40 minutes it was clear they would finish with the win. 

19/20 Placement Match – Poland vs Japan 29:24 (15:13)
As teams enter their final game of a long tournament there are always injuries within the squad and depending on the stage of competition, there are tired bodies and minds - especially if you have already been knocked out.

Both teams in this match, particularly Poland, expected more and after their match against Germany where they capitulated entirely, losing by 26 goals (19:45) Japan were maybe worried about being on the end of lashing.

That could be one reason why they had four goalkeepers in their squad and it was a strange sight seeing the quarter warm-up before the game and then line-up for the national anthems.

Of course, coach Toru Naiki had injuries and had to make replacements, but even with four goalkeepers his side could not stop the Polish attack, particularly Arkadiusz Moryto who scored nine in the game and who has been one of the highlights for Poland at Russia 2015.

Even though the fluid centre back Katsuki Tasato tried to motivate his team with his probing and prodding, complete with trickery, Japan and Coach Naiki return to Asia with just a solitary win to their name - against Argentina in the group stage.

Coach Rafal Kuptel will be pleased his side confirmed another win at Russia 2015 but 19th was not the position he envisaged finishing in pre-tournament.

21/22 Placement Match – Venezuela vs Argentina 18:29 (9:14)
Argentina beat their continental cousins to finish 21st at Russia 2015 as Venezuela were unable to repeat their unexpected victory against Chile yesterday.

Venezuelan Coach Rafael Vargas' was dealt an early blow as after just 11 minutes the 16-year-old Franklin Rojas was shown a direct red for endangering an attacking opponent.

The scores were level in this one until the 20th minute when Argentina, lead by Andres Moyano (top-scorer on nine in the game), scored five in a 7:1 run which saw them through not only to half time (11:9) but the end of the match 29:18.

Argentina were strong and resolute, and have had a mixed tournament at Russia 2015, according to Head Coach Osvaldo Lopez in this interview with IHF.info after the match.

Photos: IHF / www.uralhandball2015.com / Handball Federation of Russia