An unusual start to the final day of group matches at the 2016 IHF Beach Handball World Championship in Budapest started with the postponed Group A women's game - Italy vs Argentina during the first period (8 minutes 20 seconds) with the score at 9:6 to Italy.

Women’s Competition

Group A
After the postponement last night of the Italy vs Argentina game due to adverse weather, the teams started with 08:20 on the clock of the first period and the score at 9:6 to Italy.

With the result, Italy moved to six points in the group table, but stay in second, behind Spain on eight points, who they cannot overtake due to the direct result between them which Spain won yesterday.

Group B
Brazil made it five wins out of five with a 2-0 victory over Norway to finish group winners and also dispel any doubt about who the favourites are for the title.

Many people had said Norway could be a contender against Brazil in the battle for Budapest 2016 – in fact Norway were the last team to win a period against the Brazilians in a world championship, back in late July 2014 in Recife, Brazil.

They came close to winning a period again, as the first half finished all-even at 20:20 and went to the golden goal. Both coaches took a time out as the game became tense, but Nahalie Sena smashed home to help her side win 21:20.

With the Brazilian men in the stand providing a vocal and instrumental support throughout, the girls from South America then stepped up their performance as Sena, helped by Renata Santiago and Millena Alencar went in front at 20:18 and never looked back.

After their heroics in winning against Norway yesterday, Poland again won today, against Uruguay, but their 2-0 loss against Chinese Taipei in their opening game means they cannot finish higher than their Asian rivals in third as they also won, against Tunisia 2-0 to confirm their third place finish in the group.

Men’s Competition
 

Group A
Like the Italy vs Argentina match, Ukraine vs Brazil was also delayed until this morning from last night, but the postponement came a full hour before the match had thrown off so it just meant an extra few hours rest for both teams.

On paper, this game was a win for Brazil, playing as world champions with a near-perfect record in their previous three games at Budapest 2016. Ukraine had lost to USA in their opening match 2-0 but had got back on track with a 2-1 win over Bahrain yesterday.

The game started in the expected manner as Brazil won the first period 26:18 in fiercely fought opening exchanges which saw two players from Ukraine receive suspensions.

The physicality continued into the second period as both Ihor Kopyshynskyi and Mykola Shnyt received their second suspensions, and their coach Oleg Sych joining in with his own as the game entered the golden goal period at 14:14. Ukraine obliged and Oleksandr Tilte sunk home to take the game to penalty shots.

Brazil had lost their first period of Budapest 2016 and due to the rescheduling of games were playing on court number 2 and not the show court. Ukraine sensed an opportunity.

However, their second penalty was missed and Brazil at 8:6 up and the next penalty, opted for a single point with Bruno Oliviera finishing to secure the win and set up a winner-takes-all match against Qatar later tonight.

Group B
Hosts Hungary easily beat Oman 2-0, scoring 47 points in the process and conceding just 27. Group leaders Croatia again went to penalty shots, this time against Spain and again won, making it five wins from penalties in five games.

Australia went to penalties for the second time, but lost again as Uruguay prevailed 8:6 to win 2-1.

The results meant that Croatia finished as group winners, followed by Spain and Hungary who all go into the Main Round. Oman, Uruguay and Australia go into the consolation round.