Comeback after deep sleep
Filter kisses DHB women awake with crazy parades
December 7, 2023, 7:41 p.m
The German handball players are continuing their impressive run of success at the World Cup and are taking a big step towards the quarter-finals. Despite hair-raising mistakes at times, the DHB team narrowly wins its first main round game against Romania.
Katharina Filter beamed. Every single German handball player hugged their outstanding goalkeeper before Filter accepted the award as player of the game with a grin. After passing the World Cup stress test against Romania, the DHB women knew who they had to thank. “I’m just very happy, it was tough from the start. Nothing was given to us. We believed in ourselves, continued to fight and turned the game around,” said Filter after the 24:22 (9:12) at the start of the main round . With their fourth win in their fourth game, Germany showed real comeback qualities and opened the door to the quarter-finals.
In front of 2,500 spectators in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark, Annika Lott and Antje Döll (4 goals each) were the best throwers for the selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB), which still has an impeccable record of 6:0 points. But the player of the evening was Filter, who woke Germany up after a messed up first half with crazy saves and a catch rate of 42 percent.
“Too much respect for the passes to the circle”
“The first half was difficult, we had too much respect for the passes to the circle,” said Gaugisch. In fact, the offensively very weak German team was initially in a deep sleep against the Romanians led by star player Christina Neagu. Only after the break did Germany turn things around and, thanks to filters and an improved offensive completion rate, turned a four-goal deficit into victory. The soaring continues.
With another success on Saturday (6 p.m.) against Serbia (0:6 points), the team could possibly get an early quarter-final ticket. The final opponent in the main round group III on Monday (8.30 p.m. / both Sportdeutschland.TV) is the tournament favorite Denmark, who also lost no points. The best two teams in the four main round groups advance to the final round.
The start goes completely wrong
Three days after the 33:17 gala at the end of the preliminary round against Poland, Germany couldn’t get into the game at all. On the offensive, Emily Bölk and Co. made numerous technical errors, which Romania punished mercilessly. Germany had to nibble on the first three-goal deficit at 3:6 (11th) in the first half because an unfamiliar nervousness spread in their own attack. Co-captain Alina Grijseels missed the clearest chances with two seven meters, as did backcourt player Xenia Smits on the counterattack.
Romania’s goalkeeper Daciana Hosu had a great day in the early stages. In the German goal, Filter saved the DHB women from falling even further behind. “We need movement up front,” demanded Gaugisch during his first timeout. But there was initially no improvement. The four-time world handball player Neagu, who had missed the entire preliminary round due to injury, quickly got up to speed. Against the district game of the EM-11. Germany found hardly any resources. The attack continued to add errors after errors. Romania pulled away four goals for the first time at 7:11 (28th).
Only after the break did Germany fight its way into the game better. Shooting star Viola Leuchter turned out to be a real weapon in the backcourt with her 1.85 m, and Filter became stronger by the minute. In the meantime, Filter was scratching at a 50 percent quota. At 15:15 (42nd), Germany equalized for the first time since the opening phase. Shortly afterwards, Annika Lott (43rd) took the lead. The German team was now noticeably more confident – and Filter was still in top form.