France and Spain are looking for gold in Junior Men hockey inline. Of course, it wasn't easy to clinch the final. If you want some thrill, the Youth Olympic Sport Gymnasium is the place to be. One semifinal went to the shoot-outs (France – Italy 3-2), the other one to overtime (Spain – Czech Republic 3-2). Two battles, four great teams, full of talent, passion and grit. Inline hockey's future is in good hands. And what about Junior Women? It's Italy versus Chinese Taipei. Set up is done: sunday's time for medals. (Photo Credits: Marco Guariglia)

Italy – France 
What a game. When France and Italy play against each other, it's something more than a hockey game. They are “Alps cousins”, their rivalry is a classic: last year Italy won almost in the same way. This was France's turn. Even if they lost control of the game in the last minute of regulation time, allowing the tie goal with just 13 seconds to go. Even if in overtime Italy controlled the puck better. Even if in the shoot-outs Italian star Vendrame tied it on the last shot. It was the French Captain Marius Godano to end it: the fourth penalty shot beat italian goalie Frigo. And that was it. Final score 3-2.
They said that in a do-or-die game, your best players have to be the best players. This was the case. French Kerkhove scored both France goals. Vendrame scored and put his stick in the thrilling 2-2 tie, scored by Dal Ben. In the first half Italy had more puck possession, but the best scoring chances were French. Anyway, Italy found out how to score, on a delayed penalty situation, with an accurate wrist shot by his captain. With less than a minute to go in the first period, France tied on power play: Kerkhove saw an hole on Frigo's blocker side and scored.
French special team worked very well: ten minutes into the second period, another power play goal by Kerkhove put Italy on troubles. In the last minute of play, France missed two clear chances to close it. Seconds passed, but when all seemed to be over, with the goalie out, the Azzurris scored on a scramble in front of the French crease. It was 2-2. No sudden death goal. Kerkhove and Vendrame (who else?) scored on the shoot-outs lottery. Then Berthod missed his opportunity and Godano didn't fail. It's the game winner for France.
Marius Godano (France's captain): “In that moment you realize how beautiful is that feeling to win that way, on this stage. I can't find the words to describe it, but I think that we deserve it”.
Luca Rigoni (Italy's coach) : “To be honest, my opinion is that we played better than them, but sometimes things simply don't go your way. We played with heart, every shift, every puck. Last year was close too and we won. Now we lost. That's hockey. All I can say now is that we want the bronze medal”

ITALY – FRANCE 2-3 SO (1-1)
Score: 15.49 Vendrame (I), 19.03 Kerkhove (F); 29.04 Kerkhove (F), 39.47 Dal Ben. SO: Godano
Line-ups
ITALY: Frigo (Olando); Letizia, Vendrame, Berthod, Raccanelli, Gatti, Battistella, Rosso, Campulla, Longhini, Dal Ben, Biondi, Sica.
FRANCE: Ginier (Pasquier); Boitard, Coquema, Kerkhove, Faucherand, Discazaux, Sautereau, Godano, Bellotte, Samyn, Hornbeck, Charreau, Gonzalez, Perez, Renou.

Czech Republic – Spain
Spanish fever in Nanjing. Czechs' reign in Junior hockey is over thanks to the yellow-reds: they won an incredible 3-2 game in overtime. With heart and smartness. Playing their solid possession game in the first period and getting a two-goals advantage after 20 minutes. Soft hands means quality goals: that was the case for spanish number 22 Edo, who scored in backhand. Same skills showed by his mate Berlanga who put the second tally. But the Czechs are strong, we all know it. And they fought back in the second period , finding the way to crash the spanish wall built by goalie Gallego. Kvapil gave some hope opening Czechs boxscore with a beauty in backhand. Zdrahal complete the comeback, minute 34.22. A new game started in overtime. The sudden death goal was a beauty: it came from the hands of Rabidal. That's it: spanish gloves, sticks, helmets covered the rink. They're going for gold. Czechs will meet Italy for bronze.
Philippe Boudreualt (Spain's coach): “In the first period we played our fast, solid game. The they came back but I wasn't surprise: Czechs never give up. Now France: they have the best program to develop young players and we see the results. But the guys are on fire and ready to fight”
Radim Budil (Czech's captain) “We gave all, I have no regrets. We battled hard. Their really good, especially on defense. You Know, overtime is 50/50. It was a close one. Now we're looking for bronze”

CZECH REPUBLIC – SPAIN 2-3 OT (0-2)
Score: 1.24 Edo (S), 11.04 Berlanga (S); 28.50 Kvapil (C ), 34.22 Zdrahal (C ). OT: Rabinal (S).

Line-ups
Czech Republic: Kral (Hauser), Kvapil, Dubsky, Petrus, Marek, Jary, Mikulec, Martinek, Novotny, Budil, Zdrahal, Netusil, Galetka, Blaha, Detsky.
Spain: Gallego (Torres); Romero, Aguirre, Edo, Rabinal, Hernandez, Mendoza, Bikandi, Fernandez, Martinez, Tomas.

JUNIOR MEN RESULTS

Semifinals:
Italy  - France 2-3 (Shoot-outs)
Czech Republic – Spain 2-3 (Overtime)

Qualification 5th/8th:
Usa – Sweden 5-9
Colombia – Switzerland 3-0
Qualification 9th/12th
New Zealand – Great Britain 3-5
Namibia – Canada 3-7
Qualification 13th/16th
India – Korea 0-8
Germany – Australia 4-3

FINALS' SCHEDULE (LOCAL TIME)

Sunday, 3 Sep.
3.30pm (BRONZE GAME) ITALY – CZECH REPUBLIC
6.30pm (GOLD GAME) FRANCE - SPAIN

JUNIOR WOMEN RESULTS:
Australia – New Zealand 1-7
India – Italy 1-14
Chinese Taipei – Australia 4-0
Italy – New Zealand 2-0
Chinese Taipei  - India 8-0

STANDINGS
Italy 12 (7)
Chinese Taipei 11 (7)
New Zealand 7 (7)
Australia 4 (6)
India 0 (7)

2 SEP. SCHEDULE (LOCAL TIME):
7am Australia – Chinese Taipei
8.30am New Zealand  - India