Denmark vs. Germany 28:26 (15:13)

After an intense sixty minutes it was Denmark who were the first confirmed as a finalist at the 2015 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship. The Scandinavian side outplayed their strong opponent to win by two goals courtesy of a spectacular performance from goalkeeper Kristian Pedersen (36.8%), reliable wings and consistent attack. 

Germany were the first on the board with line player Moritz Preuss, who scored 17 goals for Germany in their Quarter-Final, putting his first in the goal in the fourth minute (1:2). After five minutes Pedersen had made three saves and Denmark were ahead by one (3:2). 

A fast break by Johan Plogv Hansen (six goals) capitalised on an attacking foul to take Denmark two goals ahead in the ninth minute (6:4), but Germany equalised with two fast break goals from left wing Yves Kunkel. Preuss then put Germany in front 7:8 as the end of the first quarter drew near. 

A two-minute suspension for Frederik Kiehn Clausen did not trouble Denmark – even a player down the Scandinavian team managed to equalise again before taking the lead once more (9:8, 19th minute). Though Ritterbach (seven goals) levelled the score on a fast break just over a minute out from half-time (13:13), Denmark took a two-goal lead into the break.  

Denmark’s Christian Jensen was the first to score when the match resumed, followed by an outside shot from Holst, putting them four goals in front (17:13) in the first few minutes of the period. 

The match became more physically intense as the time ticked on and Germany slowly closed the score line. Ritterbach was a key part of Germany’s comeback, scoring three fast breaks to take the score to 20:18 at the 40-minute mark. 

Despite errors and missed shots from both sides, Denmark increased their advantage to lead by four as the match entered its last quarter (23:19). 

Right wing Hansen scored a crucial goal in the 24th minute to keep his side ahead by two as Germany came threateningly close on the score board (25:23), and though a two-minute suspension for Kristian Bach Bonefeld put Denmark in a dangerous position, they were able to hold on through the final minutes until the whistle. 

Egypt vs. France 30:32 (12:15)

So it will be a France vs. Denmark final - a repeat of their Preliminary Group C match in Uberaba which the French won.

Johann Delattre’s side just about did enough this evening to beat a dogged Egyptian side 32:30 (15:12) who outscored his side in the second half, but he will be concerned how they were lost their focus and discipline as the African side came close in the dying stages to pushing the game into additional time.

Aside from the usual tough defence from the French, the key to the victory in many ways was a 5:0 run in three-and-a-half minutes in the second half from 36:49 to 40:04 as Egypt performed the role of observers as five different French scorers put the game, at that point, beyond doubt.

Before that France had taken a 9:5 lead with a quarter of the game gone thanks to Gueido Traore - one of Delattre’s key players during Brazil 2015, plus a number of turnovers form Egypt as the scores stood equal at 4:4.

With Julien ‘O’ Meyer (coined by the French press in homage to legendary French goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer) keeping his high standard, he was joined at the opposite end by Mohamed Fekry who kept his side in the game making saves at 5:9 to keep the score within touching distance.

At 7:11 down he then saved a 7m from France and then the Egyptian blocked their next attack, the influential Yehia Mohammed stepped up to score three quick goals at the end of the first half, including one to make it 9:12 with two French defenders twisting him to the ground he still managed to contort his body in reverse and score from behind his back.

Rudy Sery had other ideas though and, with a more important role to come, he scored two late goals to make it 15:12 to the French at half-time - although a number of turnovers and saves from both sides saw the half end with drama as Nicolas Tournat stole the ball to smash home on the buzzer.

The second half saw Egypt cause their own problems with a number of two-minute suspensions including two punishments for Abdelrahman Amr, the second of which saw France go on that 5:0 run.

Coach Wael Abdelraaty Sayed Aly took a team time out, which could have come earlier, to steady his troops with 20 minutes left, and the coach himself just moments later received a yellow card for his behaviour on the sidelines.

France were six goals up at 22:16 now and you wondered if Egypt were finished - but tactically they became more aggressive as France tried to nullify their threat through Mohab Hosam with Alexandre Saidani - their own threat - man marking him.

France then had their own few minutes of madness as Youenn Cardinal, always so reliant from the 7m line missed with just over 15 minutes left and with Egypt lacking numbers on court they, unbelievably started finding a way back.

Delatrre was crouching on the sidelines wondering what he could do with the Egyptians and immediately sent Traore to mark Ahmed Adel out of the game.

But as soon as Mohab Hossam came back on after another two-minute suspension to immediately make the score 21:24, Adel was off for two-minutes for pushing and then Egypt went a man further down as Coach Abdelraaty was given a two-minute.

Incredibly, Egypt repelled the French on court, with Hossam collapsing at one point by the bench due to a combination of fatigue and injury.

Egypt then went all out - scoring nine goals in the last 10 minutes.

They forced turnovers, misplaced shots and saves as they forced Delattre to take a time out with 53:05 on the clock.

France then received a two-minute, first for Florian Delecroix for a push on Hesham Magdy and with Hossam limping on court they forced another two-minute suspension from the French as it was Nicolas Nieto’s time to go to the sin-bin.

Ahmed Moustafa then scored a 7m and as Egypt forced a French turnover, the Egyptians took it to just two goals at 28:30 with four minutes remaining.

Another French turnover saw Egypt on the attack but Meyer repelled it - both teams then exchanged goals and with the scores at 29-31 with 22 seconds remaining, Egypt did their own version of the American-sports’ ‘Hail Mary’ as goalkeeper Mohamed Akram threw the ball the full length of the court where, quite impossibly, Mohamed Mohsen jumped at full stretch to catch the ball mid-air and smash home.

The crowd and players - including the teams of Tunisia, Japan, Netherlands, Germany and Chile - inside the Sabiazinho gasped in awe.

There was one goal in it with France in possession at 31:30 and 22 seconds remaining. But after frantic defending, Rudy Seri got some space to smash home and seal France a final place.

With emotions running high on the court after the game, the Egyptian players were distraught whilst the French players were exhausted - Nieto did not move on court for at least ten minutes after the final buzzer before he was helped off and looking forward to some recovery time.

Egypt will be recovering too, but whether they can motivate themselves for their bronze medal match against Germany, who they lost 29:24 in their Preliminary Group D match in Uberaba, remains to be seen - tears flowed freely.