Defending champions Germany lost both of their games on Friday as semi-final line-ups were confirmed in the U21 categories at the 2024 International Canoe Federation Canoe Polo World Championships.
Germany's title defence is hanging in the balance after Italy and Denmark surprised the number one-ranked team in the world.
Sylvia Cogoni came up with the sucker punch with 37 seconds remaining as world number three Italy beat them 1-0.
Later in the day, Lara Charlotte Robra found the back of the net in both halves to script a famous 3-2 victory for the Danes at the Deqing County International Convention Centre (Fengqi Lake).
There was another upset as world number six Spain were shocked by Iran. Skipper Elahe Pourabdian Limoudehi scored the decisive goal to help the Asians win 3-2.
Iran, however, was unlucky to lose their second match against the Netherlands by a whisker but will take plenty of confidence from the win earlier as they look to reach the last four.
Early second-half goals from Alyssa Shepherd and Klara Richter ensured France did not have it easy against New Zealand. They went on to win the game 2-0, putting themselves in contention for the semi-finals.
With Spain drawing 1-1 against Great Britain, the penultimate day is sure to provide all the drama and emotions in China.
Semi-finalists were confirmed in the women’s and men's U21 categories.
The top-four teams qualified among women, with defending champions New Zealand set to take on France while world number one Germany will face Spain.
Four entertaining 3-3 draws between Germany and Spain, France and Great Britain, Czechia and Lithuania and New Zealand and Great Britain were the highlights of the men’s U21 competition.
The results meant that Germany would not play for the title along with Great Britain.
France will be up against Spain for a place in the final while Denmark will battle it out with Italy in the other U21 men’s semi-finals.
The Italians joined the senior women’s team in inflicting more pain on the Germans.
An early goal from Henning May put the Germans in front but a lack of creativity cost them as Tommaso Gaetano Lampo’ bagged the winner for the Italians with three and a half minutes remaining.
The senior men’s competition on Friday saw France and Spain come up with a blockbuster.
Both sides shared leads at various points in the game but the scoreline read 3-2 in favour of the second-ranked Spaniards thanks to a Samuel Lorenzo Pardavilla strike with more than four minutes remaining.
However, Baptiste Cotta ensured that sixth-ranked France shared the spoils.
Close encounters were the theme of the day, with world number 22 Iran stretching 12th ranked New Zealand. The Kiwis eventually won 6-5.
Poland edged Sweden 4-3, while Portugal was made to work hard against Chinese Taipei before winning by the same scoreline.
Mateusz Donart powered the Poles by scoring all four goals while a double from captain Sergio Bento rescued Portugal.
The Spaniards ranked second, would be concerned about their defensive record going into the business end of the tournament after their 8-6 win over 14th-ranked Belgium.
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