High temperatures, dramatic games and top-class handball: The Airport Trophy 2019 once again lived up to its name as one of the best international tournaments for the handball stars of tomorrow. With Germany, France and Spain, three teams were at the start that are currently among the absolute best in the world. All three are among the hot contenders for medals next August when the U21 world champions are crowned in Spain.  
In the Ruebisbachhalle in Kloten, the decision to win the tournament was made in the penultimate game. The starting position before the game between Spain and France could not have been more thrilling: Under-21 world champion France was enough for a point to win the tournament, vice world champion Spaniard needed the win.
In a dramatic game and a repeat of the last U21 World Cup final, Spain stayed in the game against the favored French until the closing stages. However, the decisive hit to a three-goal lead did not want to succeed. France's rising star Noa Gaudin (he was again the tournament's top scorer) performed magic more than once and kept his team in the game. And it almost worked: 2 minutes before the end of the game, the French equalized again for the first time, the Spaniards seemed to be swimming away. The Spaniards came back after a time-out and, under the brilliant direction of Ian Tarrafeta Serrano (who ended up being voted Most Valuable Player of the Tournament), scored another goal 15 seconds from the end of the game. France's last desperate attempt to finish was blocked by the Spanish defence. The final siren was lost in the Spanish victory celebrations. It was Spain's third overall success at the Airport Trophy. And a strong sign two months before the U21 World Cup on home soil.
Once again "only" third place went to five-time tournament winner Germany. The Germans prevailed in the last tournament game against hosts Switzerland. The Swiss - as the only participant in this year's Airport Trophy not taking part in the World Cup in August - did very well against all three top teams. In the last game, the team of national coach Marcel Tobler once again fought exemplary and wanted a conciliatory end of the junior time with rank 3. However, the team never got access to the German backcourt giants, who knew how to use their freedom. Switzerland itself missed too many chances, and not just in the final game of the tournament. At the same time, the team also showed good approaches in game development and coverage. The team was only clearly defeated by the subsequent tournament winner Spain – the team was able to keep up well in all other games in long phases.
All in all, this year's tournament once again offered youth sport at the very highest level. The four teams defied the summer heat in the hall as well as the 2,000 spectators on all three days of the tournament.