SUMMARY: Hungary take third W19 EHF EURO title in a row

• Hungary take a third title in a row with a 35:26 victory over Denmark
• Romania beat Portugal 39:32 to win bronze
• all W19 EHF EURO matches streamed live on EHFTV
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• photos © Romanian Handball Federation and EHF

Sunday 16 July

20:27

Today's matches end a week and a half of excellent handball in the W19 category. Italy were the day's other winners, picking up the trophy at the W19 EHF Championship in Kosovo after beating Austria 29:21 in the final.

Many of the players on court will go on to begin - or continue - their senior careers, and we'll definitely see more of them in the future. There's no doubt the future of women's handball is very bright indeed!

To finish up, check out the highlights of the medal matches from Romania. Thanks for following all our coverage!

20:53

The All-star Team for the W19 EHF EURO has been revealed, led by Hungary's Petra Simon as MVP. Simon had a big impact on today's final again, scoring eight field goals.

Here's the full list, and check out our story for more details.

Goalkeeper: Klara Zaj (Hungary)
Right wing: Mihaela Mihai (Romania)
Right back: Luciana Rebelo (Portugal)
Centre back: Petra Simon (Hungary)
Left back: Julie Scaglione (Denmark)
Left wing: Mathilde Vestergaard (Denmark)
Line player: Andrea Brajovic (Montenegro)
Defender: Fatou Karamoko (France)

MVP: Petra Simon (Hungary)
Top scorer: Julie Scaglione (Denmark) – 68 goals

20:30

Here's today's match review, recapping all the action including the key placement match results.

20:14

Hungary lift up their coach Zoltán Szilágyi as they celebrate their win and we prepare for the medal ceremony.

20:10 | FULL-TIME

DENMARK 26:35 HUNGARY

Hungary are your W19 EHF EURO 2023 champions!

They take the title for a third tournament in a row with an absolutely dominant second-half performance - while Denmark were definitely in control in the first half, after the break Hungary made very few mistakes and once they had established their lead they kept it. 

Top scorers were Julie Scaglione for Denmark (11 goals) and Emilia Varga for Hungary (also 11 goals, including all nine of Hungary's penalties). 

Ida Kaysen performed well in goal for Denmark, making 13 saves (30 per cent), but that was far from enough to stop Hungary's attack.

20:02

Boline Laursen scores Denmark's first goal in well over five minutes, but it's not much comfort for her team as Hungary continue to dominate this second half. With about six minutes to play, they lead 31:23.

19:57

Hungary are closing in on the win - it's now 29:22. Denmark are really struggling to find the net, with their attempts blocked by Hungary's defence, while Hungary are mostly finding ways through the Danish wall at the other end of the court. 

19:50

It's a five-goal lead now for Hungary at 26:21. Compared to the first half they're playing much faster and Denmark can't cope. 

19:45

The mistakes are creeping in now for Denmark and Hungary are looking dangerous. They extend their lead to 22:19, but there's plenty of time for the game to turn around still.

19:42

A fast break by Anna Szabo and Hungary level the game at 19:19 and then take the lead at 20:19 thanks to Petra Simon. The reigning champions have restarted better than Denmark.

What can Denmark do? They call a timeout.

19:35

Here we go - less than 30 minutes for one side to win the title. A good start from Hungary gets them back to just one goal down as Emilia Varga nets a seven-metre throw.

19:24 | HALF-TIME

DENMARK 17:14 HUNGARY

Hungary are undefeated this tournament, but they find themselves on the back foot in this gold-medal game as Denmark have led for much of the half. The Danish shots are fast and accurate and while Hungary are slowing the game down in attack, this is giving Denmark time to mount a tough defence and letting Ida Kaysen dominate between the posts - she's made eight saves from 20 shots (40 per cent), compared to four from 17 for Klara Zaj (23.5 per cent).

Julie Scaglione has scored seven goals already, while Hungarian left back Emilia Varga is only one behind on six.

19:20

Hungary battled back to a two-goal deficit thanks to moves like this, but Denmark look set to go to the break in the lead:

19:14

Another timeout for Hungary as Denmark extend their lead to 14:10. Denmark are playing fast Scandinavian handball in attack and defending hard, and Hungary have not yet got to grips with how to break through the red wall. 

19:07

The next generation of Danish goalkeepers seems to be in good hands - Ida Kaysen is making some excellent saves and giving Denmark a chance to pull out to a 10:8 lead. Hungary have just called a timeout. 

19:02

Julie Scaglione's experience in the EHF European League this season is showing again, as she hits five goals inside 15 minutes. She's on track to be the top scorer of the tournament.

18:58

Ten minutes gone and the game is still level at 6:6. Hungary briefly held a one-goal lead before Denmark struck back - both sides are defending well.

18:51

No goals for well over two minutes, and then we get five in the next two! Julie Scaglione starts things off for Denmark, with Emilia Varga replying swiftly for Hungary. Filippa Larsen and Lili Szabo make it two each, and then Scaglione scores her second of the game. 

18:47

Throw-off!

18:35

Just 10 minutes until the final throws off!

Remember, you can follow our match ticker live if you can't get in front of a screen for this one.

18:20

Not long now until the final begins (18:45 CEST on EHFTV).

Hungary, remember, won the W19 EHF EURO in both 2019 and 2021; Denmark have four gold medals, one silver and one bronze from this competition, but it's eight years since they played for gold. Hungary are the clear favourites, having won every game in the tournament, but Denmark are always dangerous opponents. 

18:04

Another result today is that Spain win the W19 EHF Championship in Lithuania with a 34:23 win against the Faroe Islands. The win gives Spain an opportunity to play for qualification for the 2024 IHF Women's Junior World Championship.

17:58 | RESULT

PORTUGAL 32:39 ROMANIA

Romania win W19 EHF EURO bronze - their first medal in this age category since 2007!

They did so by taking an early lead and then holding on to it against Portugal's continued attacks. Better defence helped hugely, although none of the goalkeepers today had amazing games, as can be seen by the high combined score. 

Constança Sequeira for Portugal and both Alisia Bociuc and Diana Lixandriou for Romania scored eight goals. The Players of the Match are Sequeira and Bociuc.

Portugal are dejected, but it is a great result for them with this tournament being the first time they have reached the semi-finals of a W19 EURO.

17:48

You have to admire Portugal's fight in these closing stages as they look to close back up on Romania, but the hosts are responding and continue to take advantage of their rivals' mistakes. It's 27:34 with six minutes to play.

No mistakes with this shot though!

17:43

Portugal have kept the margin at six or seven goals, but have just conceded their eighth seven-metre penalty shot of the match - in other words, their mistakes in defence have made the difference and they are actually more effective in terms of field goals than Romania. 

17:37

There are 15 minutes left to play and Romania lead 28:21 - you get the sense that while Portugal will continue to battle, the bronze medal is staying with the tournament hosts. 

17:28

Romania are looking to extend their lead once more, and have managed to get it up to nine goals thanks to a penalty, a good steal resulting in a goal for Rebecca Geamanu, and a save and a fast break from Denisa-Roxana Romaniuc. Another timeout for Portugal.

17:18

We're back underway, and the gap remains at five goals early in the second half. 

17:09 | HALF-TIME

PORTUGAL 13:18 ROMANIA

Portugal will be happy to go into the break just five goals down, as not so long ago Romania looked like they were racing away with the game and the bronze medal. The hosts look good though, and have simply been more aggressive in attack than their opponents. 

Luciana Rebelo has scored four for Portugal, making her once again her team's top scorer; Diana Lixandroiu has netted six times for Romania. 

17:02

A stronger period for Portugal brings them back to 12:18 and it's Romania's turn for a timeout. A shoutout to Portuguese centre back Constança Sequeira, who is playing a key role in the middle of the line - both scoring and passing effectively.

16:56

Good news for fans: EHFTV is now live with the match, click here!

Bad news for Portuguese fans: Romania now lead 17:9 ...

16:53

This has been an incredible start by Romania and Portugal are takin. their second timeout in only three minutes. It's 14:6 to the hosts, and Diana Lixandroiu and Alisia Boiciuc are in control. Portugal just don't have the answers to the Romanian defence and speed. 

16:48

Apologies to anyone hoping to watch this game on EHFTV - we're having some technical issues but hope to fix them soon.

In the meantime, we can bring you some clips as Romania extend the lead to 11:6 over Portugal.

16:45

Romania have taken a slender two-goal lead in a match which is already hard-fought - Portugal have conceded two two-minute suspensions, and Romania one, in less than 15 minutes. 

16:35

Throw-off, and it's an equal start for both teams with Romania scoring first.

16:15

Just 15 minutes until throw-off in the Portugal vs Romania bronze-medal match!

15:55

Here's a flashback! The last time Romania won a Younger Age Category medal at the EHF EURO was in 2007, when none other than Cristina Neagu shone with 54 goals throughout the tournament. Romania beat Sweden 36:31 in the bronze-medal match on that occasion. Can they repeat the feat today, with a different Neagu (goalkeeper Teodora) on court?

15:40

Welcome to our coverage of the final day of the Women's 19 EHF EURO from Romania. 

The placement matches have wrapped up, with Iceland yesterday sealing the last available spot at next year's IHF Junior World Championship by beating Serbia in the 13/14 placement match. Today, Switzerland finished seventh after beating Montenegro 37:32, and Sweden took fifth with a 29:25 win over France. 

But the two big matches are yet to come: at 16:30 CEST, Romania face Portugal for bronze. Then at 18:45 CEST, Hungary have a chance at winning a third consecutive title in this age group, unless record champions Denmark can overcome them.