When the going gets tough, the tough gets going: what a day at the World Roller Games in Nanjing. The best 8 junior teams battled hard to clinch a spot for medal zone. (Photo Credits: Marco Guariglia)

Three of the four quarter finals were close, intense, emotional and ended up with just one goal of difference (France – Sweden 3-2; Spain – Switzerland 1-0; Czech Republic – Colombia 2-1). Italy – Usa was the only no contest game (6-0). Tomorrow other two do-or-die games to reach the final: Italy - France (6pm local time) will renew the rivalry after last year match-up; Czech Republic – Spain (7.30 local time) is totally unpredictable.
In Junior Women tournament Italy and Chinese Taipei are on the way for a sunday golden meeting. Tomorrow they can clinch qualification.

Sweden – France
A close game to start the quarter finals: France has more potential and shows it, controlling the puck almost all the time. Sweden plays a steady difensive game. France opens the score after 15 minutes: on a power play situation, nice feed from the corner by Gonzales deflected in by Renou. Quick answer from Sweden: a perfect tic-tac-toe combination and Arle scores on backhand. France takes the lead again with a nice snap shot by Hornbeck, but the Sweds equalizes just 20 seconds later: Osterman taps it in from the slot. France scores the game winning goal in the second period (minute 4.36) thanks to Kerkhove: his snapshot beats Borehead glove side.
Manus Godano (France's captain). “It was real battle. Now we need to stay focus for the next game against Italy: it'll be another close one”.

SWEDEN – FRANCE 2-3 (2-2)
Score: 14.18 Renou (F), 15.11 Arle (S), 16.43 Hornbeck (F), 17.07 Osterman (S). 24.36 Kerkhove (F).
Line-ups
SWEDEN: Borehed (Rosendal); Holmstrom, Thegerstrom,Gustavsson, Osterman, Arvberg, Nielse, Alre, Eriksson, Fokesson, Crona, Landen.
FRANCE: Ginier (Pasquier); Boitard, Coquema, Kerkhove, Faucherand, Discazaux, Sautereau, Godano, Bellotte, Samyn, Hornbeck, Charreau, Gonzalez, Perez, Renou.

Spain – Switzerland
Rodrigo Fernandez Gallego: he's the hero for Spain that wins a really tough game against the Swiss. Gallego astonishing performance between the pipes preserves the spanish net till the final buzz. The only goal comes in the first period (16.21) when Tomas resolves a scramble into the Swiss' slot and puts the puck in. With less than 4 minutes to play, Switzerland misses a great chance to equalize on a penalty shot: Gallego denies Mettler with a spectacular “butterfly style” pad save. Final score 1-0. Spain will face the defending champion tomorrow.
Alberto Romero (Spain's captain): “It was important to score in the first half. Then we played a good defensive system and our goalie saved us on the penalty shot. Tomorrow we'll play as hard as we can to go to the final”

SPAIN – SWITZERLAND 1-0 (1-0)
Score: 16.21 Tomas (Sp).

Line-ups
Spain: Gallego (Torres); Romero, Aguirre, Edo, Rabinal, Hernandez, Mendoza, Bikandi, Fernandez, Martinez, Tomas.
Switzerland: Ruegg (Matter), Luckhof, Meyer, Odermatt, Steger, Bissig, Brack, Cioffo, Patt, Rohner, Kessler, Bleichenbacher, Mettler.

Czech Republic – Colombia
“Sì, se puede” means yes, we can: Colombian fans' chants goes high from the stands of the Youth Olympic Sports. And Colombian players believe in the dream too. They play high-pace hockey and surpise the favourite Czech in the first period. Czechs try to move the puck quickly but Colombians are great skaters and gets the best scoring chanches, missing two breakaways. With 27 seconds to play in the first period Uribe finds the net. Noise goes louder and louder, but the Czechs are tough. They score 1-1 early in the second period on a breakaway and complete the comeback with a power play goal on rebound: Marek and Novotny score. With 1.20 left on the clock Colombia pulls out the goalie: it's not enough to equalize. The Czechs will continue to defend their crown.
Radim Budill (Czech Republic's captain): “We knew that Colombia is a very good team. They can skate really fast. But we are determined. In the second period we played our game and found a way to beat them”.
CZECH REPUBLIC – COLOMBIA 2-1 (0-1)
Score: 19.33 Uribe (Col), 21.53 Marek (Cze), 31.54 Novotny (Cze).
Line-ups:
Czech Republic: Kral (Hauser), Kvapil, Dubsky, Petrus, Marek, Jary, Mikulec, Martinek, Novotny, Budil, Zdrahal, Netusil, Galetka, Blaha, Detsky.
Colombia: Castro (Salamanca); Pinzon, Gonzalez, Uribe, Escobar, Paez, Glauser, Rodriguez, Echeverri, Oviedo, S. Rodriguez, , M.Rodriguez, Camargo.

Italy - Usa
The last quarter final is the less balanced. Italy is simply too fast and too skilled for team Usa , who says goodbye to any medal chance. Italian squad scores two quick goals with Battistella (rebound) and Longhini (what an action with Berthod and Vendrame: it's the highlight goal of the day). Then plays a smart game, keeping the puck and slowing the pace. Second period is the same story: Italy stays focused and shows his talent even on the power play: Gatti and Vendrame mark the boxscore on that situation. Dal Ben scores on empty net and Longhini closes the boxscore (power play again) for a clear 6-0 victory. Shut out for italian netminder Frigo.
Tobia Vendrame (Italy's captain): “We didn't expect such a gap between us and team Usa. Our good start helped us to control the game. Tomorrow will be a battle against France: we beat them last year and they for sure want a revenge”

ITALY- USA 6-0 (2-0)
Score: 2.07 Battistella (I), 3.30 Longhini (I); 32.45 Gatti (I), 34.08 Vendrame (I), 36.31 Dal Ben (I), 38.36 Longhini (I).
Line-ups
ITALY: Frigo (Olando); Letizia, Vendrame, Berthod, Raccanelli, Gatti, Battistella, Rosso, Campulla, Longhini, Dal Ben, Biondi, Sica.
USA: De la Torre, Aulerich, Printzen, Kohler, J.Cascarano, Ricciardi, Butler, Suekawa, Chestnut, Vislosky, D. Cascarano, Rosenthal.

JUNIOR MEN RESULTS

Quarter finals:
Sweden – France 2-3
Spain – Switzerland 1-0
Czech Republic – Colombia 2-1
Italy – Usa 6-0

Qualification 9th/16th:
Namibia - Chinese Taipei 5-1
Great Britain – Korea 9-2
Canada – Australia 9-1
New Zealand – India 9-1
Germany – Namibia 2-6

SEMIFINALS' SCHEDULE (LOCAL TIME)

6pm Italy - France
7.30pm Spain – Czech Republic

JUNIOR WOMEM RESULTS:
Chinese Taipei – Italy 1-2
India – Australia 3-4
India – New Zealand 0-10
New Zealand – Chinese Taipei 1-4

STANDINGS
Italy 8 (5 game played)
Taipei 7 (5)
New Zealand 5 (5)
Australia 4 (4)
India 0 (5)

31 AUG SCHEDULE (LOCAL TIME):
9am Australia – New Zealand
10.30am India – Italy
3pm Chinese Taipei – Australia
6pm Italy – New Zealand
7.30 Chinese Taipei – India