Best EM balance of the preliminary round
Hockey coach demands great moments against title frustration
8/23/2023 8:22 am
Three preliminary round wins, 14 goals and not conceding a goal. Germany’s hockey women want to end the untitled time at the home European Championship. The team around captain Nike Lorenz is looking for new great moments. With Belgium, the DHB selection now awaits a real test.
With the best preliminary round record of all teams, the German women’s hockey team started the semifinals of the European Championship confidently, but now the party in Mönchengladbach’s hockey park is just getting started. “We want to get to the final and for that we need a great moment. And we’ve been training for this great moment, so we’re happy that the moment has come when we can deliver it,” said national coach Valentin Altenburg before the game against Belgium on Thursday ( 8 p.m.).
With the 5-0 win in the last group game against Ireland, the DHB selection secured the achievement of the first stage goal on Tuesday evening. The way there was a bit bumpy in the game against the Irish, but in the end it certainly led to the goal. “No fireworks were important today, but bringing them home in a stable manner,” said the national coach, who wants to win the first European Championship title with his team in ten years.
Altenburg is looking forward to a “great game”
Captain Nike Lorenz played a large part in the victory with almost two identical powerful shots into the upper corner after a penalty corner. “I didn’t start the game that well today, so I let my dissatisfaction fly with the shot,” said the double goalscorer. The 26-year-old is really looking forward to the semifinals. “It’s a very, very nice feeling and I’m really proud of what we’ve managed to pull off so far. But now it’s really just getting started,” said the midfielder.
With Belgium, however, a completely different caliber is waiting for the DHB selection. “It’s a completely different level of quality than in our preliminary round group. It’s a strong team that’s been among the best in the world for a long time,” said Altenburg. “It’s going to be hard work, but it’s also going to be a great game,” said the captain. Pauline Heinz, who, like Sonja Zimmermann and Jette Fleschütz, was able to contribute a goal to victory, believes in progress: “As long as we stay together, we can do it as a team.”