Italy became the first team to secure top spot in their group at the Men’s U20 European Championships in Varna, while Spain also confirmed their place in the quarter-finals after another dramatic one-goal victory.
Italy guaranteed first place in Group A with a 12-10 win over Greece. A strong opening saw the Italians establish a 6-2 advantage early in the second quarter, but Greece refused to disappear and reduced the deficit to a single goal on three occasions.
Each time, however, Italy found an answer. De Simone led the winners with three goals as Italy moved onto six points and secured direct passage into the last eight.
The other Group A contest produced one of the games of the day as Croatia defeated Hungary 14-13 with a winner just 12 seconds from time.
Neither side could establish control during a match that repeatedly swung between them. Hungary led 7-6 during the second quarter before Croatia fought back, with the teams eventually reaching the final period level at 10-10.
Croatia moved ahead three times in the fourth quarter and Hungary responded on each occasion, the last equaliser making it 13-13. With the game seemingly heading towards a shootout, Tonicic struck with 12 seconds remaining to give Croatia the victory.
Gabriel Burburan scored five for Croatia, while Andras Toth finished with four for Hungary.
Spain were involved in another thriller after their opening-day shootout victory over Serbia, edging Montenegro 14-13 to guarantee a top-two finish in Group B.
Montenegro started strongly and led 3-1, but Spain recovered to take a 6-5 advantage into half-time before stretching the gap to 9-6 during the third quarter.
Montenegro fought back and equalised three times in the final period, but Spain moved 14-12 ahead with just over three minutes remaining. Montenegro quickly pulled one back, although neither side scored again.
Biel Gomila and Tomas Perrone scored three goals apiece for Spain, while Strahinja Gojkovic hit five for Montenegro.
Elsewhere, Serbia recorded a dominant 22-13 victory over Germany, with Milan Djokanovic and Vuk Kojic scoring five each. Turkiye and the Netherlands also secured top spot in their respective Sub-division 2 groups.
Results
Sub-division 1
Group A
Italy 12-10 Greece
Croatia 14-13 Hungary
Standings:
- Italy – 2 – 6 pts
- Croatia – 2 – 3 pts
- Hungary – 2 – 2 pts
- Greece – 2 – 1 pt
Group B
Germany 13-22 Serbia
Montenegro 13-14 Spain
Standings:
- Spain – 2 – 5 pts
- Serbia – 2 – 4 pts
- Montenegro – 2 – 3 pts
- Germany – 2 – 0 pts
Sub-division 2
Group C
Slovenia 13-21 France
Turkiye 20-6 Bulgaria
Standings:
- Turkiye – 2 – 6 pts
- France – 2 – 3 pts
- Bulgaria – 2 – 3 pts
- Slovenia – 2 – 0 pts
Group D
Malta 19-6 Czechia
Netherlands 17-7 Romania
Standings:
- Netherlands – 2 – 6 pts
- Malta – 2 – 3 pts
- Romania – 2 – 3 pts
- Czechia – 2 – 0 pts
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