Youth Handball Team Crushes Poland and Advances to Ranking Matches

14.7.2026 / 16:49

After three consecutive losses in the European Championship, the team needed to win by seven goals to stay in the fight for a ticket to the World Championship, and accomplished the task with an impressive 39-31 result. Assaf Sharon starred with 13 goals

The youth handball national team achieved a major feat at the European Championship after defeating Poland 39-31, finishing first in their group and advancing to the 9-16 ranking matches, from which they can reach the World Championship.

The team arrived knowing they needed a seven-goal win. After the losses to Romania and the Czech Republic it seemed distant, but this time they showed up differently and much more determined. The coaching staff took several risks, including many minutes without a goalkeeper, and it paid off.

The first half was excellent. Yonatan Benshtrit provided seven saves and Assaf Sharon scored seven goals. Strong minutes from the team gave them an 8-12 lead, with a long-range goal from Akstein, and Guy Resh Arman, who came off the bench, increased the advantage. Ariel Shahrbani was sent off with a red card and also a blue card, which will keep him out of the next match, but that did not stop the momentum. The team moved to a 10-16 lead and went into halftime ahead 14-19, with plenty of hope for the second half.

The second half started poorly and the Poles reduced the deficit to 19-16. Sharon missed a penalty and the Poles kept closing the gap, but Goldshtein, in his first game in goal, stopped the run. Together with Resh Arman, he restored the team's 19-23 lead.

The Poles did not allow the team to pull away and the game hovered around a two-to-four goal margin, but the final quarter was outstanding. Goldshtein, with a huge half, made it 25-30, and together with strong minutes from Eitan Albaz in goal, the team moved closer to the target.

Akstein made it 26-33, and another goal from him lifted the team to 26-35 in the 54th minute. The Poles reduced it to 29-36, Resh Arman took responsibility and Akstein made it 30-38 with less than two minutes left. It was fitting for Assaf Sharon, the man of the match, to score the decisive goal.

Goal scorers: Assaf Sharon 13, Tal Akstein 8, Guy Resh Arman 6, Itamar Goldshtein 4, Loic Bakso 4, Yonatan Palach 2, Adi Cohen 1, Ori Cohen 1.

Goalkeepers: Yonatan Benshtrit with 7 saves from 28 shots, Eitan Albaz with 5 saves from 15 shots.

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Youth Handball National Team