Preview to the Quarterfinals

19 Aug. 2013

Preview to the Quarterfinals

Budaörs:

10:00

SWEDEN VS. CROATIA

This constellation could be also a constellation for a finale. But as the Croats lost in their last match of the preliminary round against Spain, the two strong teams will meet now in the quarterfinals. While Sweden did not have any difficulties to defeat Belarus in their eighth-final match, Croatia had to struggle for their victory over Austria.

However, a duel on eye level between the two strong teams can be expected in this quarterfinal of the V Men’s Youth WCh in Hungary.

 

12:30 

SLOVENIA VS. GERMANY

The Germans played a very good tournament so far. They won their matches of the preliminary round sovereign and convinced again in their eighth-final match with Brazil.

The consistent performance of the Germans called also the attention of all other teams. Coach Christian Schwarzer can switch among various players without decreasing the high level of the game.

Slovenia defeated in the eighth-finals Egypt. Their preliminary round matches were quiet contrary to the constant German performances.  They had lost against Qatar and Sweden and played a draw against Romania. The winner of this match will play for the first time in the history of Men’s Youth World Championships a semi-final.

 

  

Erd:

10:00

NORWAY VS. DENMARK

Welcome to a pure Scandinavian competition! Defending champion Denmark has been competing on master level until now. Six games - six victories: it could not be better. In their eighth-final match on 18 August against Romania, the Danes demonstrated once more their strength. But not only Denmark features a favorite role in this tournament: Also the Norwegians played brilliantly up to now. With a great goalkeeper, plenty of excellent fast breaks, Norway should not be underestimated. The Norwegians won surprisingly against France in their yesterdays eighth-final. It was actually not the victory over France, which was sensational, but the way, ‘how’ they won against France by 35:25. A victory over defending champion Denmark would be the next step on their surprising path.

  

12:30

SPAIN VS. SERBIA

The talents from the country of the current Men’s World Champion could have had a better start into the V Youth World Championship. The Iberians had lost their opening match against Brazil. But from then on, they immediately increased their performance to a victorious one. On their road to the quarterfinal they won against France, Argentina, Angola, Croatia and proved in their eighth-final against Hungary that they also can play good under big pressure. The victory against the hosts in front of 2.000 Hungarian spectators was sovereign and hardly deserved. Spain’s target for this tournament is to reach a medal. With a victory in their upcoming match against Serbia, they will come one step closer to their goal. The Serbs will not stay passively watching their competitors. So far they had to struggle hard to qualify for the quarterfinals and they surely will go on fighting to prevent Spain in reaching their dream. Qatar was a long resisting competitor to Serbia in the eighth-final match on 18 August. But Serbia prevailed. The Serbs had started even worse than the Spaniards into the World Championship. They had lost at the beginning against Belarus and in their second match against Denmark. But the last four games had been successful. In case of a Serbian victory, the team of head coach Aleksandar Brkovics will play for a medal.