Croatia are U16 world champions after defeating Spain 10-7 in front of a packed home crowd in Zagreb.
The hosts produced a brilliant finish to a final which remained on a knife edge until the closing stages, scoring four times in the final period to secure the title on home soil.
It is also Croatia’s second men’s age-group world title in just five weeks, following their U18 triumph in Portugal earlier this summer.
Little separated Croatia and Spain throughout the opening three quarters. The sides were level at 1-1 after the first period before exchanging leads during the second, reaching half-time tied at 4-4.
Spain twice moved ahead during the third quarter, at 5-4 and 6-5, but Croatia responded on both occasions to ensure the final entered its last six minutes level at 6-6.
Spain then moved 7-6 ahead midway through the fourth after Croatia had survived two Spanish extra-player opportunities.
From there, however, the hosts took control.
Croatia converted an extra-player opportunity to equalise before moving 8-7 ahead with just over two minutes remaining. With the pressure rising inside the Zagreb venue, Croatia punished Spain on the counterattack as Sappe made it 9-7 in the final minute.
The hosts then successfully defended a Spanish man-up before Kundid added the final goal in the dying seconds, triggering celebrations as Croatia completed a 10-7 victory.
Domazet led Croatia with three goals, while Kundid and Srzic both scored twice. Adri Lopez finished with three for Spain.
Serbia claimed the bronze medal after overcoming the USA in a penalty shootout.
The match finished 9-9 in regulation after the Americans recovered from several three-goal deficits and briefly moved ahead 9-8 during the fourth quarter.
Andrija Cubrilovic, who scored four times, brought Serbia level before neither side could find a winner. Serbia then prevailed 4-2 in the shootout to secure a 13-11 overall victory.
Elsewhere, Russia defeated Brazil 10-5 to finish fifth, Italy beat Egypt 14-7 for seventh and Hungary overcame Greece 16-13 in the ninth-place match.
Results
Final
Croatia 10-7 Spain (1-1, 3-3, 2-2, 4-1)
Bronze medal match
Serbia 13-11 USA (9-9, PSO 4-2)
5th place
Brazil 5-10 Russia
7th place
Egypt 7-14 Italy
9th place
Hungary 16-13 Greece
11th place
Malta 8-6 Turkiye
13th place
Germany 10-5 Australia
15th place
New Zealand 12-10 Romania
17th place
Singapore 5-16 Montenegro
19th place
Georgia 4-16 Netherlands
21st place
Canada 11-7 Poland
23rd place
Kazakhstan 5-3 Peru
25th place
China 9-11 Ukraine
27th place
Slovenia 6-17 Israel
29th place
Portugal 8-7 South Africa
31st place
Zimbabwe 7-8 Czech Republic
33rd-36th group, Round 3
Mexico 18-9 Puerto Rico
Malaysia 11-10 Uruguay
Final standings: 33. Mexico – 9 pts, 34. Malaysia – 6 pts, 35. Puerto Rico – 3 pts, 36. Uruguay – 0 pts
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