Sweden will meet the winner of Group B in the final of the 2008 European Junior Championship, having beaten defending two-time champion France 20-13.
Despite being the only team to score points against the Swedes so far, France has to be content with a place in the third place playoff game. The top three nations at the EJC will represent the European Federation of American Football (EFAF) at the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, next summer.
Austria, Finland and Germany are all in contention to meet Sweden on Sunday, July 20, at the Estadio C.A.R. Cartuja (6pm local time) and will play their final games on Thursday, July 17.
Russia recorded its first win at the hands of winless hosts Spain as Alexey Medvedev rushed for four touchdowns in a 49-14 win and will advance to the fifth place playoff game while Spain will play for seventh place.
Sweden led 12-7 at halftime in the crucial clash with France, having gone ahead on a fourth down touchdown. The French hit back to lead early in the fourth quarter, showing why they have won the past two European Junior Championship titles.
Swedish quarterback Anders Hermodsson replied immediately by hitting Fredrik Isaksson for a touchdown pass and took a lateral pass himself for the two-point conversion for what proved to be the decisive score with 6:49 remaining. France drove downfield in reply with running back Eric Kim, its main offensive weapon, but came up short at the 2-yard mark. Inside the two minute warning, heavy rain worsened conditions, and France was unable to turn its final possession into a game-tying score.
Earlier in the day, Russia had stormed to a 32-point third quarter lead on the back of Medvedev's impressive performance on the ground before Spain scored a touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Mats Jonsson to Oriol Serrano. Russia was soon back on the offensive and scored 17 more points before Spain recorded a consolation touchdown as time expired.
Group B action concludes on Thursday when Denmark (0-2) and Finland (1-1) meet at 10:30 a.m., and Austria (1-1) takes on Germany (2-0), both at the San Pablo Sports Stadium in Sevilla.
Game Schedule & Results: 2008 European Junior Championship in Sevilla, Spain
(All times local / U.S. EST +6 hours)
Saturday, July 12
Pool 1: Sweden 27 - Russia 0
Pool 1: France 45 - Spain 25
Sunday, July 13
Pool 2: Austria 35 - Denmark 14
Pool 2: Germany 34 - Finland 7
Monday, July 14
Pool 1: Spain 0 - Sweden 40
Pool 1: Russia 6 - France 7
Tuesday, July 15
Pool 2: Finland 16 - Austria 9
Pool 2: Denmark 7 - Germany 20
Wednesday, July 16
Pool 1: Russia 49 - Spain 14
Pool 1: France 13 - Sweden 20
Thursday, July 17
Pool 2: Denmark (B3) vs. Finland (B4) (10:30 a.m.)
Pool 2: Germany (B1) vs. Austria (B2) (6 p.m.)
Saturday, July 19
Seventh Place Playoff (10:30 a.m.)
Fifth Place Playoff (6 p.m.)
Sunday, July 20
Championship Game (5 p.m.)