Germany’s women’s handball team didn’t want to dress up the mixed dress rehearsal for the upcoming European Championship at 29:29 (15:16) against Romania.
“Immediately after the game, the negative outweighs the negative. We had planned a lot more and are not satisfied with the performance,” admitted co-captain Alina Grijseels.
In the arduous draw at the end of a three-country tournament in Tatabánya, Hungary, the DHB selection revealed significant weaknesses, especially on the defensive. “We didn’t manage to play well in defense throughout the season. We have to analyze that carefully,” Grijseels admitted.
EM start against Poland
With eight goals, the backcourt player from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund was the best thrower in front of 285 spectators for the team of national coach Markus Gaugisch, who are playing their first European Championship game against Poland in Podgorica next Saturday. Other preliminary round opponents are World Cup fourth-placed Spain and co-hosts Montenegro.
After the final whistle, Gaugisch focused more on the positive. “We made a lot of mistakes, but we didn’t lose. We’ll take that with us, that gives us courage,” said the 48-year-old. “The final phase, in which the team found good solutions, was important.”
Unlike the 31:20 against Hungary last Monday, the German team couldn’t shine and struggled against the strong backcourt of the Romanians. Especially against the exceptional player Cristina Neagu, who scored a total of eleven times, the cover found no means.
backlog at the break
Only after almost ten minutes did the DHB selection, with Isabell Roch guarding the goal and left winger Alexia Hauf making a successful international debut with three goals, take the lead for the first time at 6:5. But the German game remained flawed. Among other things, two seven meters were awarded. So it went into the half-time break with a narrow deficit.
The DHB team also struggled after the change. There was nothing to be seen of the playful ease of the Hungary game, and too many chances were missed. A good ten minutes before the end, Germany was three goals behind at 22:25. But the German team didn’t give up and at least averted the impending defeat. “We saved ourselves a bit from the back. But we need more consistency,” said circle runner Meike Schmelzer.
