The German handball women achieved their second victory in qualifying for the 2026 European Championships in Belgium.
The team of national coach Markus Gaugisch won the second qualifying game on Sunday against the overwhelmed Belgians 40:21 (19:7) and, like three days before, did not have to go to their limits against North Macedonia (34:18).
“Of course it wasn’t a yardstick. The games themselves weren’t a top priority because we knew that if we did it properly, nothing could happen. And so we really used it to prepare for the World Cup,” said DHB board member Ingo Meckes after the week of the course.
Döll best thrower
In Hasselt, around 50 kilometers from the German border, in front of 1,500 spectators in the sold-out Sporthal Alverberg, Antje Döll was the best thrower in the German team with seven goals. DHB top player Xenia Smits took things a little easier in her native country and only scored once. For the Belgians, Nele Antonissen took 22 (!) throws and scored eleven times.
Night’s qualifying game only after the home World Cup
In the European Championship qualification, the German team will not continue until March, after the home World Cup, with the away game against their strongest group opponent Slovenia at the end of November. The first two teams in the group of four will reach the European Championship finals in December 2026 in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Türkiye.
Belgium was only able to keep up for a short time
The Belgians, who are at best second-rate internationally and have never qualified for a major tournament and had lost their first group game 22:29 against Slovenia, fought hard in the early stages. Belgium stayed with it until 5:6, after which Germany consistently pulled away.
Only after the 26:8 score in the middle of the second half did the DHB team play less consistently, especially in defense. The Belgians, who didn’t give up to the delight of their own teams, scored some impressive goals.