Germany’s handball women coped well with the quarter-final exit at the World Cup and showed a strong reaction in the first placement game against the Czech Republic and ultimately won confidently with 32:26 (14:12).
They wanted to “get back up again”, “press the reset button” and “definitely secure fifth place” – that’s how the German players and coach Markus Gaugisch tried to motivate themselves after the crushing 20:27 defeat in the quarter-finals against Sweden.
And the difference between fifth place at the World Cup in the best case and eighth place in the worst case can still mean a lot: it depends on who the DHB team has to compete against at the Olympic qualifying tournament in April – the German women have not been there since 2008 Play while doing it.
Placement games arrow right To the live ticker: Germany – Czech Republic arrow right
Strong intermediate spurt to 7:2
The start of the game showed that the DHB women were serious. When the score was 3:2, the team made an impressive spurt, the defense clamped down hard and Alina Grijseels, Viola Leuchter, Antje Döll and Leuchter scored four goals in a row to make it 7:2 – Czech Republic coach Bent Dahl had to with his pull the emergency brake for the first time out.
The tactical break had an effect, as a result the Czechs defended more stably again and stayed within striking distance. In the 21st minute, Dominika Zachova shortened the score from the right wing position to 8:11, then Grijseels failed with a seven-meter pass to Petra Kudiackova – the momentum seemed to be there to tilt a little.
Three goals in a row to connect
When Amelie Berger had to serve a time penalty after 25 minutes, the Germans completely lost the thread: Marketa Jerabovka, Natalie Kuxova and Veronika Mala made it close with a 3-0 run – Germany only led by 13:12.
After all: Shortly before the break, Maren Weigel fired a ball from almost ten meters into the top right corner, so that a two-goal lead was saved into halftime.
Great start to the second half
Gaugisch’s speech during the break must have been quite something. From the throw-off, the DHB women put constant pressure on in the second round, Xenia Smits, Emily Bölk, again Smits and Behnke scored four goals in a row to make it 18:12 in the 33rd minute: the preliminary decision was made early.
Another blow in the neck for the Czechs: When Grijseels served another time penalty in the 42nd minute, Annika Lott and Amelie Berger even increased their lead – Bent Dahl’s protégés never recovered from that. As a result, the resistance of the previously extremely tough opponent visibly weakened.
Berger breaks the 30-goal mark
In the last ten minutes, both teams also brought in players from the second row, the defense work was no longer taken so seriously, and in the 53rd minute Berger broke the 30-goal mark for the Germans. A lively exchange of blows developed, which ultimately led to the final score of 32:26.
