The group stages are done and dusted in Netanya, Israel, as the Women’s World Junior Championship’s moves onto the classification stages. Four teams have automatically qualified for the quarter-finals: Greece, Netherlands, Israel and Russia, while eight teams will seek to join them them in the round of 16 games tomorrow.
Italy will face France in the first round of 16 match, while Spain will have to progress to the quarter-finals the hard way, by facing Germany tomorrow. Hungary will be strong favourites in their round of 16 match against Argentina, while Serbia and Brazil looking evenly matched in their play off to make the quarter finals.
Group A
There was no stress for Greece in their final group game as they defeated Germany comfortably and secure the top spot in Group A. Eirini Ninou continued her good form in this competition with another six goals to her tally.
Elsewhere in Group A, Italy also barely broke a sweat in defeating Slovakia. Dafne Bettini was amongst the goals with eight – the most in a single match so far in this competition.
Greece 23-3 Germany (6-0, 5-1, 7-1, 5-1)
Slovakia 7-26 Italy (1-6, 3-7, 2-7, 1-6)
Group B
Spain did all the could do to finish top of Group B by beating South Africa by 16 goals to 4, however the Netherlands smashed France by 22 goals to 6, meaning they go top of the group. Spain will therefore have to face Germany tomorrow to guarantee a place in the final 8.
South Africa 4-16 Spain (1-4, 2-3, 0-3, 1-6)
France 6-22 Netherlands (4-6, 2-6, 0-3, 0-7)
Group C
Impressive Israel have finished their group stage campaign with a 100% record after brushing aside Peru. Alma Yaacobi and Tahel Levi both netted five times in the match. The Israeli’s will be very satisfied to be straight through to the quarter finals of their home tournament, even if their group was probably the weakest at the championships.
Serbia have finished the group stage with a much needed victory over Argentina. Andrea Gasic and Ana Milicevic were both on form, as the Serbs claim second spot in the group. They will now face Brazil, who finished third in Group D, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Argentina 7-15 Serbia (1-5, 3-5, 1-2, 2-3)
Israel 22-3 Peru (7-1, 3-0, 7-1, 5-1)
Group D
Hungary lost their first game of the tournament at the hands of one of the competition favourites, Russia. In a game that they were always trailing, they never really found an answer for Russia’s Anastasia Panfilova, Ekaterina Golubeva or Aleksandra Bogdanova – who all snatched three goals each. While they are still expected to make the quarter-finals, the Hungarians will now have to play an extra match in the round of sixteen against Argentina if they are to progress any further in the competition.
In the other game in Group D, 5 goals from Madinabonu Shermatova was not enough to secure Uzbekistan their first win of the tournament as they went down against Brazil. The two teams were evenly matched for most of the game, but goals from Leticia Belorio, Ana Julia Batista, Rebecca Moreira and Luana Bonetti in the last ten minutes of the match secured a first win at this competition for the South Americans. Brazil really had to work for this win, but they wont care. Their focus will now be on their last 16 tie with Serbia tomorrow.
Hungary 10-16 Russia (3-5, 2-4, 4-4, 1-3)
Brazil 14-11 Uzbekistan (2-2, 6-5, 4-3, 2-1)
Tomorrow’s fixtures:
10:30 – Slovakia vs South Africa – 13th-16th Play Off
12:00 – Peru vs Uzbekistan – 13th-16th Play Off
13:30 – Italy vs France – Round of 16
16:00 – Germany vs Spain – Round of 16
17:30 – Serbia vs Brazil – Round of 16
19:00 – Argentina vs Hungary – Round of 16
