Tournament top scorer Luca Waldschmidt gave the German team an ideal start to their tie with Poland at the Dacia Arena in Udine.

The forward scored his fourth goal of the tournament in the 14th minute to set Germany on course for a third consecutive victory.

Kevin Danso responded 10 minutes later from the penalty spot.

It followed Germany’s goalkeeper Alexander Nübel being deemed to have caught Sasa Kalajdzic unfairly with his knee when catching the ball.

A draw was all Germany need to go through as Group B winners, but they were given a scare when Kalajdzic hit the post.

Germany held on to the 1-1 draw to seal their place in the semi-finals and next year's Olympic Games. 

Denmark finished as group runners-up after claiming a 2-0 win against Serbia, who suffered a third straight defeat.

Goals either side of half-time from Jacob Bruun Larsen and Jacob Rasmussen were enough to give Denmark victory.

The Danish team failed to earn a semi-final place as the best runner-up, with Italy boasting a better goal difference.

Hosts Italians will now await the conclusion of Group C to determine whether they have done enough to reach the last four and clinch a place at Tokyo 2020.