For the first time since 2005, when Tunisia made historical success, non-European team are qualified for the semi-finals of the World Championship. Qatar will play for the final against Poland, after Valero Rivera boys beat Germany 26:24…
That will be the first couple of semi-final on Friday 18.30 local time, while in the second match will face France against Spain.
Croatia vs Poland 22:24 (10:12)
A greater will to win and goalkeeper Slawomir Szmal were the keys for the third Polish ticket to a World Championship semi-final since 2007. Croatia did not manage to maintain an intermediate three-goal lead.
The first half was largely even, while Poland had the better finish, ahead by two goals. Then the Croats turned the tide, producing a 6:1 series to lead 16:13. Poland struck back, retaking the lead ten minutes before the final buzzer. Still nothing was decided and the Croats even seemed to be on the winners’ way when Zlatko Horvat netted in for a 21:20 lead. But it would be short-lived.
Thanks to three unanswered strikes by Chrapkowski, Syprzak and their top scorer Mariusz Jurkiewicz and two spectacular Szmal saves, Poland stormed into the semi-final.
Qatar vs Germany 26:24 (18:14)
The incredible success story of hosts Qatar continues with their unlikely journey now taking them to the final four. Tonight it was thanks largely to the saves by their goalkeeper duo Danijel Saric and Goran Stojanovic, who pulled the German teeth.
The 1:0 start was the Germans’ first and only lead. Shortly after the hosts took full control, forging ahead to leads of 6:3, 13:7 and 16:9. While Zarko Markovic was nearly unstoppable on offence, the Germans also missed too many clear opportunities to change the game’s momentum. But they showed strong morale and character in the second half, narrowing a seven-goal deficit to 19:20.
Again Saric, Markovic (six goals in total) and top scorer Rafael Capote (eight goals) took full responsibility, saving the lead for Qatar and supported by the frantic fans on the stands.
Germany could not reduce the gap to less than two goals and left the field empty-handed. Their top scorer was Uwe Gensheimer with five goals, while their best player was goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter with 11 saves.
Denmark vs Spain 24:25 (11:11)
In this rematch of the 2013 World Championship final (won by Spain 35:19), a last-second goal by Joan Canellas decided the most exciting thriller of the quarter-finals. The two sides were even for 60 minutes, taking turns with the lead. And just as the fans were preparing to see extra-time, Cannelas found a gap to score the winning goal with two seconds remaining.
No team managed to force ahead to more than a two-goal difference through the entire 60 minutes.
The outstanding player of the match was Spanish wing Valero Rivera junior who scored 10 goals from 11 attempts. And like his father Valero sen., will play in the semi-final.
Slovenia vs France 23:32 (10:18)
Here, the first 13 minutes had already decided the unequal encounter. Thanks to the saves by goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer (18 in total) and the needle-pin counter attacks, France were ahead 7:1 and led 18:10 at the break. When the lead hit double figures for the first time at 20:10, the deal was sealed.
Slovenia, a semi-finalist in 2013, reduced the margin briefly at 20:24, which only forced France into once again taking the match seriously.
Luka Zvizej (Slovenia) and Daniel Narcisse (France) were the top scorers with six goals each.
