Group play resumes on Friday in Gothenburg, Sweden, and teams will compete in the medal and placement rounds on Saturday and Sunday with pairings based on the final group standings.
Israel shocks Canada, while Austria, Italy, Mexico and USA remain unbeaten in the men’s competition at 2012 IFAF Flag Football World Championship
Israel provided the biggest surprise of the first day of action at the 2012 IFAF Flag Football World Championship by defeating the team that finished fourth two years ago Canada, to close out Thursday’s men’s competition games with a 2-1 record.
The Israelis, who will host the 2014 championship, suffered a 43-21 opening defeat to Mexico, but then convincingly saw off the challenge of Germany 46-24 before rocking the previously unbeaten Canadians 28-22. Canada had opened with victories against Switzerland and host Sweden in the city of Gothenburg.
The team setting the early pace is Austria, who scored 68 unanswered points against flag newcomer Kuwait and then only a point less in another shutout, this time over Korea, before conceding two touchdowns in a 55-12 win over Korea.
Reigning champion USA, neighbor to the south Mexico and Italy also remain unbeaten at 3-0 after the first day of play. USA beat host Sweden, Switzerland and France, while Mexico beat Israel, France by a point in a close 33-32 win, and Switzerland. Italy were too strong for Panama, Norway and Korea.
Keeping up pace at 2-1 are Canada, Israel and Japan along with 2-0-1 Denmark following a tie with Panama (1-1-1), who beside Germany and France, boast one win. Still looking for their first tournament victory are Switzerland, Sweden, Kuwait and Korea.
The results mean that Group A will feature some key battles take place on Friday with the top three teams – USA and Mexico and Canada – all facing each other. Fourth-placed Israel opens Friday against USA, but then its next three games come against teams that have only combined for one win so far.
In Group B, Austria is out in front alongside Italy and they meet in Friday’s second game at 11am at the same time as third and fourth-placed Denmark, silver medalists in 2010, and Japan also line up in opposition.
Day one men’s results from the 2012 IFAF Flag Football World Championship
Canada 42 v Switzerland 13
Germany 18 v France 38
Mexico 43 v Israel 21
USA 51 v Sweden 8
Denmark 41 v Norway 6
Italy 39 v Panama 19
Austria 68 v Kuwait 0
Japan 55 v Korea 6
Switzerland 25 v USA 52
Israel 46 v Germany 24
France 32 v Mexico 33
Sweden 6 v Canada 34
Panama 26 v Denmark 26
Norway 20 v Italy 34
Korea 0 v Austria 67
Kuwait 6 v Japan 39
USA 40 v France 26
Canada 22 v Israel 28
Mexico 43 v Switzerland 26
Germany 18 v Sweden 14
Denmark 82 v Kuwait 12
Italy 46 v Korea 18
Austria 55 v Norway 12
Japan 20 v Panama 31
Austria sets the pace in the women’s competition at 2012 IFAF Flag Football World Championship
Austria set the pace in Group B of the women’s tournament at the 2012 IFAF Flag Football World Championship as they posted a 3-0 record alongside Mexico and Group A leaders USA in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Austria beat Panama 33-6, Brazil 49-6 and Sweden 38-6, conceding 21 points fewer than any of their rivals. Mexico outscored all nations with 128 total points, but conceded 57 as they beat Sweden 41-19, edged by Germany 39-32 and saw off Brazil 48-6.
USA was too strong for Italy 33-12, France 25-19 and Denmark 20-13 and stands ahead of 2-1 France and Japan who met in their opening game with the French women coming out on top 33-12. Japan then recovered to narrowly beat Israel 14-13 and Italy 25-6, while France went down to USA and then recovered to edge Israel 46-40. Germany also boasts a 2-0 record after beating Brazil 56-6 and Panama 25-18 having lost in between to Mexico.
Israel, Denmark and Panama all have a win each and two losses, while Italy, Sweden and Brazil are winless after the first day of action.
USA can lock up group A by beating Japan in Friday’s opening game, while the decider in Group B might not come until the day’s final games take place at 3.30pm when the two 3-0 teams Austria and Mexico meet.
Day one women’s results from the 2012 IFAF Flag Football World Championship
USA 33 v Italy 12
France 32 v Japan 7
Austria 33 v Panama 6
Denmark 13 v Israel 25
Mexico 41 v Sweden 19
Germany 56 Brazil 6
France 19 v USA 25
Israel 13 v Japan 14
Italy 12 v Denmark 13
Brazil 6 v Austria 49
Mexico 39 v Germany 32
Panama 25 v Sweden 6
USA 20 v Denmark 13
Japan 25 v Italy 6
Israel 40 v France 46
Austria 38 v Sweden 6
Germany 25 v Panama 18
Mexico 48 v Brazil 6
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