11 European teams make it to Last 16 at Women's Junior World Championship

The preliminary round at the Women's Junior World Championship 2016 in Russia has come to an end with 11 from 13 European teams qualifying for the Last 16 in the 24-nation tournament.

With Spain vs Sweden, Netherlands vs Germany, Denmark vs France and Hungary vs Croatia, there will be four all-European encounters in the Last 16 on Monday.

Furthermore Norway face Brazil, Russia play Argentina and Romania take on Japan. The only match without European participation is Korea vs Angola.

Tournament hosts Russia in Group D and Denmark in Group A are the two European teams that won all their group phase matches. These two are also two of the hottest gold medal candidates as they faced each other already in the Women's 19 EHF EURO 2015 Final last year.

Korea, winners of the Women's Junior World Championship 2014, also won all their matches in Group B.

Qualifying from Group A alongside Denmark were Norway, Hungary and Angola, while fifth ranked Montenegro were one of the two European teams not to make it to the knockout stage - the second one were Austria who finished fifth in Group B.

In this Group B Croatia, Brazil and France qualified together with group winners Korea.

In Group C Romania claimed the top spot ahead of Germany because of the better goal difference. Both teams finished with nine points each after the game between the two ended 29:29. Spain and Argentina were the teams ranked third and fourth respectively.

From Group D Russia, Sweden, Netherlands and Japan made it to the Last 16.

The Last 16 will be played on 11 July, followed by the quarter-finals on 12 July.

The semi-finals are scheduled for 14 July, the final for 15 July. For more information, visit the IHF website and download the playing schedule.

Other Younger Age Category events this summer include the Women's Youth World Championship in Slovakia from 19 to 31 July, the Men's 20 EHF EURO in Denmark from 28 July to 7 August, the Men's 18 EHF EURO in Croatia from 11 to 21 August and the Men's 18 EHF Championships from 15 to 21 August in Georgia, Bulgaria and Lithuania.