Germany’s handball players still have a lot of work a lot of work in front of them.
In the first test game duel with co-host Netherlands, the team of national coach Markus Gaugisch lost in Eindhoven with 31:35 (14:20).
In front of 2000 spectators, Nina Engel (eight goals) and Alina Grijseels (seven) were the best throws of the selection of the German Handball Association (DHB). Almost the entire season, the DHB women ran after a clear gap. Both teams in Krefeld see each other again on Sunday (7:00 p.m./DF1).
“These games are worth gold,” said Gaugisch in advance with a view to the strength of the opponent: “This is great feedback for us.” However, he quickly found out that his team is still far from the desired form. The Dutch were already in the lead 7: 3 after ten minutes because the German players left too much against the strong goalkeeper Yara Ten. The hosts themselves came to numerous counterattacks and continued to settle until the break.
“There are still a few construction sites,” said team manager Anja Althaus at half -time at the microphone of “DF1”: “We have to do it like the Dutch. They don’t look left and right and do their thing.”
With the now strong backing Sarah Wachter, the German team actually increased, was more present, but ex-world champion Netherlands was apparently able to grow again effortlessly.
After the September measure, the European Championship qualifiers against Northern Macedonia (October 16) and Belgium (October 19) follow before two games against Switzerland form the immediate World Cup preparation for the DHB women in November. Germany opens the tournament on November 26th in Stuttgart against Iceland, the last World Cup medal won the DHB women in France (bronze) in 2007.