Host Brazil will have its best result ever at a Women’s World Championship: By beating Croatia after a great catch-up chase and a nail-biting final stage the Pan Americans play for the fifth and second place on Sunday 18 December against Russia. Their best result up to now was the seventh rank 2005. Croatia will face Angola in the intercontinental encounter for the places seven and eight.

Croatia –Brazil 31:32 (15:14)

Croatia played brilliantly until the middle of the first half, as their goalkeeper Jelena Grubisic shut the gate and the Brazilian defence was not able to stop the tall Croatian shooters. After the 6:2 for the Europeans, the World Championship host reduced to 6:5 – but then they lost their pace completely for the next ten minutes. Croatia punished every Brazilian mistake in attack and went on to 12:6, especially due to the goals of Penezic and Zebic. But not for the first time at this tournament the spectators saw the roller coaster turning its direction. Thanks to a 7:2 series in only nine minutes Brazil was back on track at 14:13 – thanks to goalkeeper Barbara Arenhart and the improved defence. On the other hand the Croatian did not mark the Brazilian attackers close enough.

Then the second half started like the first one, again Croatia extended the lead, this time to five goals (22:17), before Brazil found their ways to break through the opponent’s defence – and as goalkeeper Chana Masson saved extra-ordinary, Brazil came back at 25:26 in minute 47 and equalized two minutes later for the first time. The performing level and the number of mistakes of both teams showed how tired they were in their in total eighth match at this championship.

But cheered by their now frenetic and singing spectators Brazil gave their last power to turn the game completely: Thanks to three counter attack goals after Croatian mistakes the host advanced to 30:27, before Croatian coach Vladimir Canjuga took his second time-out in only ten minutes to stop the downswing in minute 54.

And Canjuga was successful – but thanks to the help of the Pan-Americans, who stopped scoring and missed several big chances. Exactly 120 seconds before the end, Croatia equalized again at 31:31. Still 16 seconds to go, Brazilian coach Morten Soubak took his time-out. And Ana Paula Rodrigues made the hall go crazy scoring the decisive 32:31 ten seconds before the end, as Croatia missed their last chance.

Statements after the match:

Vladimir Canjuga, coach Croatia: We started well and were five goals ahead, but suddenly stopped to play – and the same happened in the second half, when we were away with five goals. When Brazil changed its defence and marked Penezic, we could not cope with it – aside we played very weak in defence. If we play like this on Sunday against Angola, we will lose, if we play like we did against Norway we can win.

Morten Soubak, coach Brazil: I am really happy, as it looked very bad for a long time – but we returned and now we have already reached the best ever position at a Women’s World Championship. But it is not only this result, but how we improved step by step and made our way what makes me proud.

Dijana Jovetic, player Croatia: I am really disappointed and sad, as we caused so many stupid technical mistakes. Now we still have one game to play, and we hope to play much better.

Francine Moraes, player Brazil: This was a real tough match, much harder than our quarter-final against Spain. This World Championship makes us hope for the next tournaments. Now we want more.