There were no upsets or thrillers on Day 4 of the 2025 Elite Men’s European U16 Championships in Istanbul, as all four crossover matches followed the expected script. The teams that finished third and fourth in Subdivision 1 comfortably dispatched their lower-ranked opponents to book spots in the quarterfinals.
Istanbul: Crossover Matches Go According to Plan
The day began with Croatia asserting their dominance over Germany, cruising to a 17–11 win. A powerful first half (10–4) laid the groundwork for a straightforward passage into the last eight.
Montenegro were similarly ruthless early in their clash with Romania, racing to a 10–2 lead late in the third quarter. They eased off in the closing stages but still secured a 13–7 win.
Hungary were briefly held in check by Georgia, tied at 2–2 after the opening quarter. However, the Hungarians found their rhythm quickly and ran away with the game, winning 14–4.
The final match saw hosts Turkiye take on the Netherlands. The home side delighted the local crowd with a strong showing, leading 13–6 early in the fourth period before a late Dutch surge made the final score a more respectable 15–12.
Crossover Round Results – Istanbul
- Croatia 17–11 Germany (5:2, 5:2, 3:4, 4:3)
- Montenegro 13–7 Romania (3:2, 4:0, 4:2, 2:3)
- Hungary 14–4 Georgia (2:2, 5:1, 3:1, 4:0)
- Turkiye 15–12 Netherlands (3:1, 4:2, 4:3, 4:6)
Quarterfinal Matchups – July 11
- Serbia vs. Croatia
- Spain vs. Montenegro
- Italy vs. Turkiye
- Greece vs. Hungary
Ljubljana: Division 1 Quarterfinal Picture Takes Shape
In Ljubljana, the Division 1 competition also moved closer to the business end. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and France have all secured quarterfinal spots ahead of the final group stage matches.
Ukraine needed penalties to edge Switzerland 20–19 after an 11–11 draw in regulation. The win sets up a Group B decider with unbeaten Bosnia and Herzegovina, who eased past Lithuania 14–6.
In Group A, Bulgaria continued their perfect run with a 14–10 win over Portugal to guarantee top spot. France, who defeated hosts Slovenia 14–11, will finish second regardless of tomorrow’s results thanks to their head-to-head record.
Day 4 Results – Ljubljana
Group A
- Bulgaria 14–10 Portugal
- Cyprus 15–10 Slovakia
- France 14–11 Slovenia
Group B
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 14–6 Lithuania
- Czechia 12–6 Latvia
- Ukraine 20–19 Switzerland (after PSO)
Standings
Group A
- Bulgaria – 12 pts
- France – 9 pts
- Slovenia – 6 pts
- Cyprus – 6 pts
- Slovakia – 3 pts
- Portugal – 0 pts
Group B
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – 12 pts
- Ukraine – 11 pts
- Switzerland – 7 pts
- Lithuania – 3 pts
- Czechia – 3 pts
- Latvia – 0 pts
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