CSKA Palace of Sport, Tuesday 12 July
Placement match 19/20: Austria vs Egypt 09:30 local time

For both Austria and Egypt qualifying for the 2016 IHF Women’s Junior (U20) World Championship was momentous, which meant neither side could travel to Russia 2016 with high expectations – though Austria came close to causing some upsets in their group phase campaign with losses of just one goal to quarter-finalist teams Korea and Croatia. 

For Egypt, Russia 2016 is the first Junior Women’s World Championship, and the team are therefore focused mainly on development. Considering Austria’s results in comparison with Egypt’s greater deficits at the end of most of their matches, the European team should be able to record a comfortable win here. 

President’s Cup Final
Placement match 17/18: Montenegro vs P.R. of China 11:45 local time

Picking a winner from these two sides ahead of the match is a difficult task – from the nations alone one would ordinarily give the edge to Montenegro given their strong recent tradition in women’s handball, but the Junior team are not at their best in the absence of key shooter Djurdjina Jaukovic due to injury. 

P.R. of China on the other hand come into this match on the back of a positive streak of growth at Russia 2016, which saw them play an excellent game against Sweden to lose by just five goals against the bronze medallists from the 2015 European championship in round four, then defeat Chile to earn their first two points at the championship. 

The 60 minutes to decide the winner of the President’s Cup will be an interesting clash of fast-paced attack and active defence from China against the more traditional game favoured by Montenegro. 

Sport Palace Dynamo Krylatskoe, Tuesday 12 July
Placement match 23/24: Uzbekistan vs Kazakhstan 09:30 local time

Russia 2016 is the first taste of a Junior Women’s World Championship for Uzbekistan, who come up against Kazakhstan to determine final ranking. Kazakhstan have the experience of three World Championships behind them, though it is the third consecutive time they find themselves in the placement match to decide 23/24. 

Considering Kazakhstan’s greater experience and stronger performances through the preliminary round, they should be able to pull off a win that will place them at 23rd on the final ranking. 

Placement match 21/22: Tunisia vs Chile 11:45 local time

Both Tunisia and Chile recorded their first wins at Russia 2016 in their opening President’s Cup match, with Tunisia defeating Uzbekistan and Chile winning their match against Kazakhstan. Though they are playing for 21/22 on the final ranking, these are two determined teams that have shown a willingness to fight through to the 60th minute, which should mean a tightly contested game. 

Tunisia have greater experience at this level as it is Chile’s first Junior World Championship, and they also count several members of the Denmark 2015 senior squad in their ranks, which indicates they may be the stronger side on paper – but Chile are motivated and will likely pay little attention to the odds that may be against them.