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With a gala performance: DHB women play perfect preliminary round
November 30, 2025 – 9:00 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
The DHB women completed a flawless preliminary round against Serbia. From the start they left no doubt about the outcome of the game.
Exciting World Cup party at the end of the preliminary round: Germany’s handball players danced exuberantly across the parquet after their gala at the end of the World Cup preliminary round and were celebrated by the enthusiastic fans for a flawless first phase of the tournament. With the 31:20 (17:10) against Serbia, national coach Markus Gaugisch’s team kept its clean slate and traveled to the main round in Dortmund as undefeated group winners.
In front of 5,527 spectators in Stuttgart, left winger Antje Döll was the best thrower with eight goals for the DHB selection, which took 4-0 points into the second phase of the tournament. The first opponent in the fight for the ticket to the quarter-finals is the Faroe Islands on Tuesday. After that, Montenegro and Spain are still waiting for the Gaugisch team. All three German opponents go into the main round with 2:2 points.
“I’m super happy with how the three games went,” Gaugisch gave an interim assessment after the preliminary round. Top scorer Döll said on Sporteurope.TV after the game: “We have developed a certain flow, which – as we said before – can and will be important for us.” It didn’t bother her that she stayed on the bench after the break after scoring eight goals in the first half. “I think it’s very good how we do it and divide it up.”
With a view to the tasks ahead, such breaks are likely to be valuable. When asked what attitude the DHB team would approach the main round games with, Xenia Smits announced: “Full throttle. Nothing less than full throttle.”
A few hours before the game, the exit from the World Cup for circle runner Jolina Huhnstock (arm injury) dampened the mood in the German camp. Marie Steffen from Oldenburg will join the team on Monday to replace the 24-year-old from Buxtehuder SV. But there was also good news: Backcourt ace Emily Vogel returned after her break with a cold.
Inspired by the confident victories against Iceland (32:25) and Uruguay (38:12), the DHB women really got started after a short start-up time. Above all, the defense was solid and formed the foundation for a successful start. After nine minutes, Germany was four goals ahead at 6-2, which prompted Serbia’s coach to call an early timeout.
Driven by the fans, the DHB selection stayed in rhythm and extended the lead to seven goals for the first time at 10:3. Gaugisch had said shortly before kick-off: “It’s going to be a very difficult task. It won’t be the case that we open the door and tear everything away.”