The third day of the IHF World Championship of Beach Handball Junior Men and Women was marked by the intensity of the matches and teams from the South and Central America region, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay demonstrated the high level they have.
Female branch
The Uruguayans opened the day after facing Romania in the first match of the Consolation Round -stage before the matches by defining the last places of the ranking-. There, the girls fought until the shoot-outs to stay with the match, but they could not against the European team that consecrated their first victory in a Beach Handball World Cup.
However, they were later to play their second game of the day against Hong Kong. There, the charrúas achieved their first triumph so far in the tournament and positioned themselves in the 2nd place of Group III (Consolation Round).
Then it was Brazil’s turn. The Cariocas had their first match in the Main Round -stage before the qualifying heats- against Poland and, although they started down, managed to turn the game around and stay with the triumph.
Unfortunately, in their second match against Hungary – champions- they could not repeat the feat and closed the day in the 3rd place of Group I.
In the case of the Argentine national team, the “kamikazes” had a round day. Their first match against Puerto Rico was won by a wide margin and against Greece, the hosts, won 2-0 in a match that was very fought.
Thus, the Argentines remain undefeated in the tournament and position themselves in the 1st place of Group II, consecrating themselves as one of the great candidates for the title next to Hungary and Spain.
Uruguay vs. Romania 1-2 (20:17/14:17/2:8)
Hungary vs Ukraine 2-0
Poland vs Brazil 1-2 (21:6/15:26/6:8)
Thailand vs Spain 0-2
Argentina vs Puerto Rico 2-0 (30:9/20:6)
Germany vs Greece 2-0
France vs Netherlands 0-2
India vs Hong Kong 0-2
Poland vs Spain 0-2
Hungary vs Brazil 2-1 (27:18/12:14/7:4)
Thailand vs Ukraine 2-1
Hong Kong vs Uruguay 0-2 (10:24/8:20)
Germany vs Netherlands 2-0
France vs Puerto Rico 2-0
Romania vs India 2-0
Argentina vs Greece 2-0 (22:18/22:21)
Male Branch
Winning day had the Uruguayan team in the first day of the Consolation Round. The Charrúas opened the third day of competition by facing Togo in a match where they were largely dominating the score. They then met the United States and achieved their second win of the day and the tournament.
With these results, celestes are positioned in the 2nd place of Group III, behind Czech Republic, team with which they will face tomorrow.
Brazil also closed their day with a finishing touch after winning their two Main Round matches against Sweden, where they won by just one goal in shoot-outs, and Qatar.
Thus, the Cariocas were tied in the 4th place of Group I with Sweden, France and Iran, so tomorrow will be a key day to know who will manage to stay in the top 4 of the group and qualify to the quarterfinals.
Argentina, on the other hand, did not start on the right foot on the third day. The effort and the match he made to Spain was not enough to stay with the victory and he ended up falling by 2 sets to 0.
However, he did not want to stay with that bitter taste and went out with everything in his second game against Jordan. Although it was a tough match, the albicelestes managed to keep the difference in the score and stay with the two sets.
With those results, Argentina stays in the 4th place of Group II, tied with Ukraine and Jordan, and must play against the home team in the final day of the Main Round.
Togo vs. Uruguay 0-2 (12:24/10:18)
USA vs. Czech Republic 0-2
Iran vs. Croatia 1-2
Sweden vs. Brazil 1-2 (18:16/14:16/6:7)
Qatar vs. France 2-0
Jordan vs. Ukraine 0-2
Greece vs. Germany 1-2
Spain vs. Argentina 2-0 (25:20/25:24)
Czech Republic vs. Togo 2-0
Uruguay vs. United States 2-0 (22:10/15:12)
Iran vs. France 2-0
Qatar vs. Brazil 0-2 (10:14/8:9)
Sweden vs. Croatia 0-2
Spain vs. Germany 2-1
Greece vs. Ukraine 0-2
Jordan vs. Argentina 0-2 (16:23/15:16)
Both the women’s and men’s teams from Argentina and Brazil will have to leave with everything tomorrow to secure their place among the top 4 in each group and thus continue dreaming of the intercontinental podium.
Photo: IHF
