Spain wins replay of 2019 final and goes to top 8, with Greece, Hungary and Serbia

Spain beat Italy in the big match of Day 3 at the Men’s World Championships, secured 1st place in Group C, and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Hungary, Greece, and Serbia won 1st places in their respective groups and  qualified for the quarterfinals, along with Spain.

The replay of the 2019 World Championships final, Italy-Spain was a very exciting game with twists and turns. Spain started well, but it was four goals down in the second quarter. Still, it made a come back to record a 14:12 victory and win 1st place in Group C ahead of Italy and South Africa. Unfortunately, the 4th team in this group – Canada finished the tournament because of the Covid cases, as we already reported.

The goal difference decided the 1st place in Group B, where Greece finished atop. Croatia is 2nd, Japan is 3rd, and Germany is 4th. Croatia beat Japan today (21:13), but it wasn’t enough for 1st place. Greece closed the group stage with a 16:8 win over Germany.

Hungary confirmed 1st place in Group A with a 18:14 victory over Georgia, which has played well since the beginningof the tournament. Montenegro beat Brazil 20:5, and finished behind Hungary-

Serbia, which secured 1st place in Group D after the 2nd round, demolished Kazakhstan (22:3). The USA defeated Australia 14:9 in the match which was crucial for 2nd position in this group.

2022 World Men’s Championships, Day 3

Group A (Budapest)

Brazil – Montenegro 5:20 (0:4, 2:6, 0:7, 3:3)

Brazil:Barella, Cabral, Lacerda, Coutinho 1, Freitas 1,Pedroso, Real 1, De Paula, Chiappini, Vizacre 1, Guimaraes, Silva 1, Mendes. Head coach: Diaz.

Montenegro: Lazovic , Mrsic 2, Vucurovic 3, Averka 3, Cuckovic 1, Popadic 2, V. Radovic , Djurdjic 2, Petkovic 2, Banicevic 2, Matkovic 3, Petkovic, Tesanovic. Head coach: Gojkovic.

After hard matches against Hungary and Georgia, Montenegro defeated Brazil with ease. The Montenegrins dominated from the beginning. Early in the fourth period, they had a 17-goal lead (19:2), but Brazil narrowed a big gap at the finish of the encounter.

Hungary – Georgia 18:14 (3:3, 7:3, 4:5, 4:3)

Hungary: Levai, Angyal 1, Manhercz 4, Pohl 1, Vamos 3, Mezei 2, Zalanki 4, Burian 1, Nagy, Varga 1, Jansik 1, Harai, Vogel. Head coach: Marcz.

Georgia:Razmadze, Adeishvili, Dadvani 1, Shushiashvili 3, Bitadze 1, Jelaca 2, Jakhaia , Saric 1, Imnaishvili 1, Vapenski 3, Baraldi 1, Vasic 1, Shubladze. Head coach: Stanojevic.

Hungary needed a lot of time to break Georgia’s resistance. After a few minutes of play, the hosts left without goalkeeper Soma Vogel, who got injured after a ball shot to the face. Marton Levai replaced Vogel.
The Georgians proved their potential in the opening minutes. In the 5th minute, they earned a 3:1 lead. However, immediately after, Krisztian Manhercz scored two goals within 33 seconds to level at 3:3
Vamos converted a man-up in the 9th minute, and the home team went in front for the first time – 4:3. Still, Imnaishvili equalized twice in the following minutes – 4:4 and 5:5.
In the 21st minute, the score was 7:6. Hungary netted three goals in the last 141 seconds of the first half and built a solid 10:6 advantage before the second half of the game.
Still, Georgia managed to come back into the game. Two and a half minutes before the last break, Vapenski hit the back of the net from a penalty and the Georgians halved the deficit (10:12). Hungary rebuilt a 4-goal lead after both Vamos and Manhercz scored a power-play goal (14:10). Still, Boris Vapenski netted the last goal in this period to narrow the gap to three (11:14).

The European champions killed the Georgians’ hopes in the first four minutes of the last period. By the middle of the final quarter, Hungary netted three goals (Zalanki, Vamos, Burian), built a 6-goal lead (17:11) and there was no way back for the Georgians. Still, the losing team deserved applause by the home fans in the packed stands for today’s performance. Hungary didn’t play the best it could, but Georgia continued proving that it had made progress.

1. Hungary 3 – 6
2. Montenegro 3 – 4
3. Georgia 3 – 2
4. Brazil 3 – 0

Group B (Debrecen)

Japan – Croatia 13:21 (3:4,6:3, 2:7, 2:7)

Japan: Tanamura, Adachi 1, Watanabe, Ogihara1, Maita 1, Suzuki, Date, Takata, Arai 2, Inaba 5, Okawa 1, Araki 2, Fukushima. Head coach: Shiota.

Croatia: Bijac, Buric 2, Fatovic 3,Krapic 5, Lazic, Bukic 1, Vukicevic 3, Zuvela 1, Marinic Kragic, Vrlic 1, Basic, Kharkov 5, Popadic. Head coach: Tucak.

Croatia’s convincing win against Japan was something that was expected. Croatia needed a 12-goal win to win 1st place and qualify for the quarterfinals. Still, the encounter between the Asians and the European powerhouse was an even contest for almost three quarters. Moreover, Japan had a 2-goal lead three times in the middle two periods. But, the Croats took control in time or Japan ran out of gas for the finish. Anyway, the Croats secured (only) second place.

Croatia took an early 2:0 lead, but the Japanese answered with three goals, went to 3:2 and proved that they wouldn’t show the white flag.Croatia regained a lead before the end of the first period (4:3). Still, the Europeans missed too many chances in the second quarter, and Japan started dictating the pace. In the 12th minute, Ogihara scored from a counter-attack for 7:5 and the Croats didn’t think about a 12-goal win anymore, but only about three points and 2nd place. They leveled at 7:7 quickly, but at halftime, Japan led 9:7. Before the third period, Toni Popadic replaced Marko BIjac in front of the Europeans’ goal.

Fatovic opened the third period with an action goal. Arai converted a man-up for 10:8,and after that, the Croats started coming back. The favorites netted four straight goals and went in front (12:10). Inaba converted a penalty in the 22nd minute to stop the Croats’ series (11:12), but not for long. In the last minute of the third quarter, Fatovic and Bukic scored a goal each and Croatia built a 3-goal lead for the first time (14:11).

Japan didn’t surrender yet. Inaba made it 12:14 in the 25th minute, .In the remaining time, the Croats dominated, but it was too late for them to chase a 12-goal win. They netted seven straight goals and earned a 21:12 lead with 27 seconds to go. Maita scored the last goal in the game.

Greece – Germany 16:8 (4:1, 5:1, 4:2, 3:4)

Greece: Zerdevas, Genidounias 5, Skoumpakis, Kalogeropoulos 2, Fountoulis 2, Papanastasiou 2, Dervisis, Argyropoulos 1, Gouvis, Kakaris 1, Nikolaidis 2, Vlachopoulos 1, Tzortzatos. Head coach: Vlachos.

Germany:Schenkel, Bozic 2, Korbel 1, Rotermund, Schutze 1, Jungling 1, Strelezkij 1, Kuppers, Dolff, Kubisch 1, Schipper , Gansen 1, Gotz. Head coach: Porobic.

Olympic silver medalist Greece was too strong for Germany. The Greeks practically secured the victory after the first half. They opened the second period with two quick goals to go to 11:2. After that, they saved energy for the quarterfinals. They didn’t have to chase a goal difference in today’s match.

1. Greece 3 – 5*
2. Croatia 3 – 5*
3. Japan 3- 2
4. Germany 3 – 0

*Scores against the 3rd-placed team: Greece – Japan 18:7, Croatia – Japan 21:13.

Group C (Sopron)

Italy – Spain 12:14 (4:5, 6:3, 2:2, 0:4)

Italy: Del Lungo, Di Fulvio 2, Damonte 2, Iocchi Gratta, Fondelli 1, Cannella 1, Marziiali 1, Echenique, N.Presciutti 1, Bruni 1, Di Somma 3, Dolce, Nicosia. Head coach: Campagna.

Spain: Aguirre, Munarriz 2, Granados 3, Sanahuja 2, De Toro 1, Larumbe 2, Famera 1, Cabanas, Tahull 2, Perrone, Mallarach 1, Bustos, Lorrio. Head coach: Martin.

Spain needed a point in the replay of the 2019 World Championships to keep 1st place because of a better result against 3rd-placed South Africa.

The derby offered a lot of thrills. After several big twists and turns, Spain secured a 14:12 win and qualified for the quarterfinals.

The Spaniards started excellently. After 02:23 minutes, they already had a 3:0 lead. Italy’s head coach Alessandro Campagna switched the goalkeepers after the Spaniards’ third goal (Nicosia replaced Del Lungo). Still, Spain kept a 3-goal lead until 5:2. But, the finish of the first quarter belonged to the Italians, and they trailed by a goal before the second period (4:5).

At the first break, Spain’s coach David Martin decided to change goalkeepers – Lorrio substituted Aguirre. Still, that move didn’t produce a result. Di Somma opened the second quarter with an equalizer – 5:5. Larumbe replied with a man-up to give Spain a 6:5 advantage. Then Italy found its rhythm, scored four goals in a row, and jumped to 9:6. After the 9th goal, Aguire returned in front of the Spaniards’ goal, but he couldn’t break Italy’s series. Damonte made it 10:6 a minute and a half before the middle break. Sanahuja ended Spain’s goalless phase by converting a double-man up for 7:10. The same player closed the first half, four seconds before the buzzer – 8:10.

Spain started coming back, but Italy controlled the match in the third period. The “Settebello” built a 3-goal lead twice (11:8 and 12:9). Two goals separated the rivals before the final quarter (12:10) – Mallarach netted an action goal three seconds before the last break.

In the middle of the fourth period, Roger Tahull converted a man-up after a beautiful assist by Alvaro Granados. Italy entered the final two and a half minutes with only 10 available players because three were sent out because of three personal fouls. Granados scored from an extra player with 02:20left on the clock and gave Spain a 13:12 lead. At the other end of the pool, the Italians failed to convert their man-up, and they paid for it. In the next possession, Granados scored a nice goal from the right. Spain went to 14:12 with 01:14 minutes to go. That was the end. It was clear that Italy couldn’t record a win and climb to 1st place.

Spain’s opponent in the quarterfinals will be Montenegro or Japan. Italy will face Australia in the crossover round.

Canada – South Africa 0:5 (technical score)

1. Spain 3 – 6
2. Italy 3 – 4
3. South Africa 3 – 2
4. Canada 3 – 0*

*Canada withdrew, after it was disqualified from the group stage due to Covid cases

Group D (Szeged)

Kazakhstan – Serbia 3:22 (0:4, 1:8, 0:5, 2:5)

Kazakhstan: Makhmetov, Tsoy, Pustovalov, Vuksanovic 3, Lamayev, Artyukh, Shakenov, Berbelzuk, Akhmetov, Shmider, Khassanov, Shonzhigitov, Liplin. Head coach:Ukumanov.

Serbia: Dobozanov, Mandic 1, Subotic 1, Randjelovic 1, Lazic 1, Vico 3, S.Rasovic 6, Lukic, Jaksic 2, Radulovic 3, Drasovic 1, V.Rasovic 1, B. Mitrovic. Head coach: Savic.

The first match of the day in Szeged had no importance. Serbia had secured 1^st place after the 2^nd round, while Kazakhstan couldn’t move from 4^th place.

The difference in quality was obvious from the beginning. Serbia, which played far from its best against USA and Australia, dominated and didn’t slow until the end. The match against Kazakshstan wasn’t a real test of their shape before the crucial matches, but the Olympic champions were motivated despite the fact they played against the underdog.

Ten Serbian players got on the scoresheet. Srdjan Vuksanovic, who played for all age categories of the national team of Serbia (and won gold at the 2014 World Cup) scored all three goals for Kazakhstan.

USA – Australia 14:9 (4:2, 4:2, 4:3, 2:2)

USA: Weinberg, Dodd 1, Vavic, Gruwell 1, Daube 1, Ehrhardt 1, Hallock 3, Woodhead, Bowen 2, Stevenson 1, Farmer, Irving 4, Holland. Head coach: Udovicic.

Australia: Porter, Mardsen, Ford 2, Negus 2, Power 1, McJannett, Pavillard 2, Holden, Townsend 1, Putt, Poot, Edwards 1, Hedges. Head coach: Hamill.

Australia caused headaches to Olympic champion Serbia two days ago, but the “Sharks” weren’t able to surprise Team USA.

The Americans took a 2:0 lead after less than two minutes of play. In the 11th minute, Australia caught up with the rival (4:4). Still, the USA, led by Ben Hallock, scored four unanswered goals by the middle break and entered the third quarter leading 8:4.

From that point on, the difference was never smaller than two goals. Alex Bowen converted a penalty in the 22nd minute to stretch the margin to five (11:6) and Team USA kept the distance until the end.
The Americans will have an easy task in the quarters -they will play against South Africa, while Australia will face a big challenge – Italy.

1.Serbia 3 – 6
2.USA 3 – 4
3. Australia 3 – 2
4. Kazakhstan 3 – 0

Road to the Finals

All games will be played in Budapest

Crossover round  (June 27):

Match 1: Montenegro (2A) – Japan (3B) at 14:00
Match 2: Georgia (3A) – Croatia (2B)  at 15:30
Match 3: Italy (2C) – Australia (3D) at 17:00
Match 4: South Africa (3C) – USA (2D) at 18:30

Quarterfinals (June 29):

QF1: Hungary (1A)– winner Match 3 at 13:00
QF2: Greece (1B) – winner match 4 at 16:00
QF3: Spain (1C) – winner match 1 at 19:30
QF4: Serbia (1D)– winner match 2 at 21:00

The quarterfinals schedule is subject to change. Hungary will play its game at 21:00.

Semi-finals: (July 1):

SF1: winners QF1 – QF2
SF2: winners QF3 – QF4

Finals (July 3)

Final: winner SF1 vs winner SF2

Classification matches

The games will be played Szeged

July 27, semifinals of the classification 13th-16th place:  Brazil (4A) – Germany(4B) at 17:00, Kazakhstan (4D) bye.

The 13th-place match will be played on July 29 at 15:30.

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