Both teams had headed into their final Group A match at the Tauron Arena in Kraków having suffered consecutive defeats to France and the host country  Poland, making the tie an all or nothing match for the final spot in the main round.

Understandably, the circumstances the match proved incredibly tense and tight, with their only being two instances in which either team had been able to earn a two-goal lead.

The second of those occasions came towards the conclusion of the first half when Goce Georgievski put Macedonia into a 12-10 lead, but they were unable to maintain that advantage as they went in level at the break.

Similarly, the lead continued to change hands throughout the second period but Serbia looked set to earn third position in the group with the score reading 27-26 in the final minute, until Manaskov’s late leveller dashed their hopes.

"I don't know if I am the hero,” said Manaskov after putting his team through on goal difference.

“The most important is that we qualified for the next round with the draw tonight."

Having already booked their places in the next round, defending champions France and Poland met to decide who advance as Group A winners.

The French team, the reigning Olympic and world champions, were eventually forced to settle for second position after they were beaten 31-25 but the host nation, who have now recorded three straight wins.

In Group B, Norway ensure of their progression to the main round by fighting back from a 13-12 half-time deficit to overcome Belarus at the Spodek in Katowice.  

Despite a late surge, Belarus eventually fell to a 29-27 defeat to leave their hopes of qualification depending on Croatia overcoming Iceland in the group’s late game.

An inspired spell at the start of the second half proved the difference between the teams as Norway, who had entered the game with a victory and a defeat, scored several quick-fire goals to establish a four-goal lead.

Croatia headed into their match knowing that Norway’s victory has put them through to the next round, with Belarus lying below them in the standings.

They were able to provide the Belorussian team with a huge favour, however, as they recorded a comfortable 37-28 victory over Iceland.

The result saw Iceland's goal difference slip to two worse than Belarus, meaning the team who finished fifth at the 2014 Championships failed to advance from their group. 

The winners of the tournament will qualify for this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The runners-up will advance to the final qualification tournament for Rio 2016. 

At the Asian Men’s Championship, hosts Bahrain moved to the brink of qualification for the semi-finals after beating the United Arab Emirates 28-26 at the Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town for their third consecutive win in the competition.

They occupy top spot in Group B ahead of Saudi Arabia, who comfortably defeated winless Lebanon 32-13 to move their record to two wins and one draw. 

Iran, though, remain just a point off the second semi-final place after they brushed aside the challenge of China 36-18.

With two rounds of group matches remaining both China and Lebanon are now out of contention for the semi-finals having failed to win, leaving the United Arab Emirates and Iran looking to overhaul Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The winning team will qualify for next year's World Championships in France.