Greece vs Cyprus

The match was effectively decided inside the opening 15 minutes. Greece's high-tempo attack and aggressive defensive press forced early turnovers, and their lead ballooned past the ten-goal mark before the interval. Cyprus, missing several key players from their opening-day lineup, could not stem the tide. The Greeks' ability to sustain intensity across the full 60 minutes — a trait the IHF had noted pre-tournament as a hallmark of this squad — proved decisive.

Greece's entire offensive unit functioned at a high level, with multiple scorers contributing to the 39-goal tally. The victory was a statement of depth for a Greek side that the IHF preview had described as carrying "the same backbone" that helped them qualify for the Women's EHF EURO 2026, though in the men's tournament their strength in depth was on full display against the tournament's weakest side.

Cyprus showed resilience in patches, especially in spells of the second half, but they were outmatched in every phase. Goalkeeper saves and the occasional fastbreak provided highlights, but the defensive structure could not contain Greece's varied attack.

The 39–24 scoreline reflects a chasm in quality that had been evident throughout the group stage. Greece scored 39 or more for the second time in three matches (also 39–27 vs Tunisia), while Cyprus conceded 33+ for the third consecutive game. The Greek attack averaged 34.7 goals per game across their three Group B fixtures — a tally that makes them the highest-scoring side in the group.

Greece finish the group stage with 4 points (W2 D1 L0), securing their place in the semi-finals on Saturday, 30 August. The identity of their semi-final opponent depends on the final Group B fixture between Algeria and Tunisia later on Thursday, 27 August, and on results in Group A (Italy, Egypt, Portugal, Kosovo).

For Cyprus, the tournament ends in the group stage with three defeats and a teaching experience against higher-ranked opposition. The Mediterranean Games nonetheless offered valuable exposure for a squad with limited major tournament history.

Greece did what was required — efficiently, ruthlessly and without complication. Against a Cyprus side that never threatened an upset, the Greeks ticked over their rotation, maintained their goal-difference advantage, and turned focus to the semi-finals. Cyprus will take lessons from the step up in class.