Romania – Netherlands 36:22 (22:12)

If any competitor needed a proof of the Romanian abilities and strength, this match would have been a perfect example. In the first match of the quarter-finals of this Women´s Youth (U18) World Championship the Romanian girls beat Netherlands in a never expected clear manner with 36:22 and will play for the final against the winner of the quarter-final between Brazil and Montenegro. The Romanians started like a speed-train: after only ten minutes the Dutch coach was forced to interrupt the match with the first team time-out, when Romania was already in lead with 8:2. After he had re-organized his team the Dutch girls came back into this match, but without reducing the gap. And in the final stages of the first half the Romanians paced up again and put the score at 22:12 at break. The match was pre-decided.

Coming back to court for the second half the Netherlands tried to improve the result, but Romania was the clearly better team this day. Even at half power they succeded in increasing the lead. The Romanian girls kept the gap until the final whistle and were happy to have reached the semi-finals, while team Oranje will play for the places 5 to 8.

Brazil – Montenegro 24:25 (10:11)

At the end the Brazilian girls were crying. With a last-second goal of Durdina Malovic Montenegro won the second quarter-final of this Women´s Youth (U18) World Championship with 25:24 and made it to the semi-final against Romania on Friday. But it was a hard fight for the victory between these nearly equal competitors, in which Brazil looked like the winner after 45 Minutes when the Pan-American team was in lead with 18:14. It was the first and only clear result in a match that swayed back and forth for a long time. And it did not last for long. When Montenegro scored for the 18:18 draw everything was prepared for a thrilling final section. None of both teams could achieve a lead with more than one goal and with a counter-attack 20 seconds before the final whistle Brazil scored for the 24:24 draw. And just as everyone was expecting ten minutes overtime the Europeans settled the victory right with the last second. While Montenegro was celebrating their victory Brazil is facing the first placement match for the places 5 to 8 against the Netherlands.

Germany – Korea 35:29 (19:15)

At the latest after 37 minutes, when Germany was ahead with seven goals for the first time in this match, it was also clear for the Koreans, that their chances to win this quarter-final decreased significantly. But what had happened before was a demonstration of how an underdog can beat a favourite. After six successful matches and pure speed handball, the Korean girls were one of the top favourites of this Women´s Youth (U18) World Championship in FYR Macedonia. But after 60 intensive minutes of handball, the German girls achieved an unexpected and clear 35:29 victory and eliminated the Asians. They only needed seven minutes to build up a 6:2 lead, with the German goalkeeper saving two penalties. They put a very strong defense against the fast Korean attacks – and it worked. The longer the match, the more helpless their competitor. Only two minutes after the break Korea came close at 17:19. But the German team played it straight as they did during the first 30 minutes. Beginning with 22:17, 24:18 and 30:20, they pre-decided the match already after 45 minutes. During the final stages of this match Korea reduced the gap without endangering the German team, which is going to play their semi-final against the winner of the match between Russia and Denmark on Friday.

Russia – Denmark 26:29, 22:22 (11:10)

Russia and Denmark played a thrilling and exciting quarter-final, which was decided with 26:29 for Denmark after the first extra-time. During the complete 70 minutes of play it was a very tight match between two equal encounters. Most of the time Russia was ahead with one goal or the match was draw. And so the result at break had nothing of a pre-decision, when Russia was in lead only with 11:10. After the teams had come back to court the match continued similarly for the next twenty minutes. Nearly 300 spectators were thrilled by these two hard fighting teams. Russia seemed to be on the winning streak, when they were in lead with three goals nine minutes before end. But with a last-second goal Denmark preserved the chance for the semi-final and made it to extra-time. And during the second five minutes of the overtime, Denmark made it clear, while Russia, obviously frustrated because of the missed victory during normal playing time, was lacking power and concentration. Denmark will meet Germany in the second semi-final on Friday, Russia will continue in the placement-matches for the places 5 to 8.

Placement round 9 – 16 on 30 July in Strumica:

Croatia and Argentina successful 

Hungary – Croatia 27:23 (10:14)

With this victory in the first placement match for the places 9 to 16, Croatia underlined their good performances during this Women´s Youth (U18) World Championship. After their defeat in the eighth-final against Romania, they performed well recovered and won against Hungary, who still suffered from their surprising one-goal defeat against the Netherlands two days before, with 27:23. Already at break the Croatian girls were four goals ahead – and they defended this gap during the second half. So now Croatia will play for the places 9 to 12, while Hungary has to compete for the places 13 to 16.  

Norway – Argentina 22:28 (14:12)

Two different halfs decided the match between Norway and Argentina, which the Pan-American girls won with 28:22. During the first 30 minutes Norway seemed to be on the winning streak because they were not only two goals ahead (14:12), but also the better team, which clearly controlled the match. Coming back to court the Scandinavians completely lost their gameplay and Argentina turned the match upside down. Finally the match was decided after 54 minutes when the Pan-American girls were in lead with six goals (26:20). And during the final stages of this match they defended their advantage. After this defeat Norway will play the matches for the places 13 to 16 while Argentina is looking forward to the placement matches 9 to 12.

Portugal - Japan 38:32 (20:14)

After the unlucky defeat after penalty shoot-out in the eighth-final against Germany, Portugal seemed to be recovered again. In their first placement match for the places 9 to 16 they beat Japan with 38:32 and had to break only low resistance. After 18 minutes they were in lead with seven goals (16:9) and defended the result until the break. Up to the 50th minute they were pushing continuously up to a 36:24 lead without giving the Asians a chance to come up. Only during the final stages of the match the Japanese made the result more bearable as the Portugese played it relaxed until the end. Portugal now will play for the places 9 to 12 while Japan continues with the matches for the places 13 to 16.

Sweden – France 29:24 (14:8)

After all matches France will not retain plesasant memories of this Women´s Youth (U18) World Championship in FYR Macedonia. After they lost their eighth-final clearly against Denmark (22:33) they also were defeated by Sweden in their first placement match for the places 9 to 16 with 29:24. The match was almost decided after the first 30 minutes, when the Scandinavians had build up a six-goal lead (14:8). And they did not get into danger during the second half, although France showed moral and tried to reduce the gap. Sweden will continue this placement round with the match for the places 9 to 12 against Portugal, France will meet Japan.