No chance in the World Cup quarterfinals
The DHB women’s semi-final dream is shattered
December 13, 2023, 6:53 p.m
The hope of reaching the first World Cup semi-finals since 2007 ends for Germany’s handball players in the first minutes of the game. In the quarter-finals against Sweden, nothing works, especially in the early stages, and the deficit quickly grows into an uncatchable situation.
Sweden shock instead of medal dream: Germany’s handball players were taught a lesson at the World Cup and missed the semi-finals. National coach Markus Gaugisch’s team lost to Sweden, fifth in the European Championship, in the quarterfinals after a catastrophic first half with 20:27 (6:16), and their hopes of winning their first precious metal since bronze in the 2007 World Cup were not fulfilled.
“I’m very disappointed. We didn’t get what we could do. In the first half we were far below our potential. Sweden won all the duels, we won none offensively or defensively. We are very sad,” Gaugisch said frustrated. Tears rolled down from leader Emily Bölk.
The Swedes around Linn Blohm pulled away early.
(Photo: IMAGO/Bildbyran)
A collective blackout at the start of the game with almost 15 minutes without a goal of their own nipped the German team’s delicate medal dreams in the bud. The completely one-sided game was already decided at halftime in front of around 6,000 spectators in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark. With a significantly improved second half, the German team prevented an even bigger debacle.
The best throwers for the selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB) were co-captain Alina Grijseels, Viola Leuchter and Amelie Berger with four hits each. However, this was not significant given the 26 (!) German missed throws. Instead of the podium, Germany is only playing for places five to seven; two years ago the final stop was in the quarter-finals. In the first of two placement games, the German team will face the Czech Republic on Friday (11.30 a.m./Sportdeutschland.TV).
The defeat against Sweden, the second in the seventh game of the tournament, also ended their hopes of reaching the first semi-final at a major tournament in 15 years. After the last three seventh places, the big hit didn’t happen again. After all, the team had already secured their planned participation in an Olympic qualifying tournament in the spring of next year by moving into the knockout phase.
At times Sweden hits everything, the DHB team hits nothing
“Everyone is excited about the knockout phase,” Bölk said before the game. They want to “go one better” and have “the quality to beat Sweden”. However, Bölk and Co. were miles away from that. In attack, the German team hardly developed any threat to score, produced missed throws and technical errors on the assembly line and appeared downright timid against the aggressive Swedish defense. The German defense had no access at the back and goalkeeper Katharina Filter barely held a ball.
After just nine minutes, Gaugisch was forced to press the timeout buzzer for the first time. “Continue. Remember the basics,” the national coach shouted to his completely unsettled team when the score was 0:4 – but after that the German game only became more hectic. Even when Bölk finally scored the first German goal after exactly 14 minutes and 7 seconds, there was no shock from the German team. Co-favorite Sweden, who Germany was able to defeat in preparation for the World Cup, played excellent defensively.
Gaugisch tried everything possible, changed his staff around – it didn’t get any better. While Sweden scored with almost every throw, left winger Antje Döll threw an unchallenged shot past the goal at 3:10 (20th), joining the list of German misses. The ten-goal deficit at the break was well deserved.
Germany acted with much more courage after the break and reduced the deficit. But the ripped-off Swedes didn’t let that bother them. In view of the many German missed throws, Gaugisch kept tearing his hair out on the sidelines.