🇫🇷Lire en Français
Tension reached its peak at the Gebze swimming pool on semi-final day. The crowd was treated to a series of outstanding matches, but not every team could earn the right to compete in tomorrow’s finals. Everything was on the line today, and the pressure could be felt throughout the venue. There was disappointment for some teams, although the round-robin standings were generally reflected in the results. Most of the favourites lived up to expectations.
U19 M
Colombia caused a major upset against New Zealand to secure a place in the final. After eliminating Australia in the quarter-finals, the Colombians confirmed their growing momentum by knocking out a New Zealand side that had looked stronger during the round-robin stage. However, performing well in the group stage is not enough—you also have to deliver in the knockout rounds. The Kiwis failed to do so and were defeated 2–0 in the semi-final. This victory allows Colombia to continue their remarkable journey all the way to the final match of the competition. In the other semi-final, Türkiye overcame France. The French had started the match well, but the home crowd may ultimately have made the difference. Driven forward by passionate supporters in the stands, Türkiye eventually secured a thrilling 4–3 victory after extra time. Les Bleus will have plenty of regrets. They had the match under control on several occasions, but each time they failed to hold on to their lead. Türkiye therefore booked their place in the final, where they will face Colombia.
The U19 men’s world title will be decided between Colombia and Türkiye.
U19 W
Colombia defeated Türkiye in their semi-final to secure their place in the final. They dismantled
the host nation 5–1 in a clear and convincing victory. It was also a widely expected result, giventhe way the Colombian women have dominated the competition so far. They confirmed theirexcellent form by successfully overcoming the penultimate stage of the tournament.
In the second semi-final, New Zealand eliminated France with a 2–1 victory. It was a closely contested match, but the French players struggled tactically. They committed far too many fouls and spent too much time in the penalty box to give themselves a realistic chance of winning. Their pursuit of the world title therefore came to an end just one match before the final. New Zealand, meanwhile, continue their journey. Their victory sets up a final against Colombia, bringing together two of the strongest teams in the category.
A final that promises plenty of excitement will therefore see Colombia face New Zealand.
U24 M
South Africa secured their place in the final by eliminating Australia. The South Africans earned a comfortable 3–1 victory against an Australian team that appeared surprisingly short of ideas. The Australians had shown much more during the round-robin stage, finishing comfortably at the top of the standings while remaining unbeaten. However, that impressive record was not enough today. The victory sends South Africa through to the final stage of the tournament.
New Zealand won the other semi-final against Colombia and will join South Africa in the final. The Kiwis had to dig deep to earn a dramatic 4–3 victory against a Colombian team that refused to give up until the very end of extra time. Los Cafeteros were finally defeated in the last minute of the match after being punished for a tactical mistake. Holding the puck in the corners for too long may not have been the best strategy for securing victory. New Zealand nevertheless confirmed their status as one of the leading contenders for the title in this category.
New Zealand and South Africa will face each other tomorrow to determine who will claim the gold medal.
U24 W
New Zealand eliminated Colombia in the tournament’s semi-final. In fact, they did much more than simply eliminate them—they completely dominated the Colombians with a resounding 6–0 victory. It was a harsh return to reality for a Colombian team that had naturally hoped for a much better result. With this victory, New Zealand qualified for the final and once again demonstrated why they are the clear favourites, extending their unbeaten run in the process.
Türkiye secured their place in the final by overcoming France. It was a comfortable 3–0 victory for the Turkish team, much to the delight of the large home crowd that had turned out to support them. France continued to disappoint but will have an opportunity to redeem themselves tomorrow. They will attempt to salvage their tournament by claiming a valuable bronze medal.
Türkiye therefore continue their journey and will face New Zealand for the world title.
