The Dutch women’s handball team has been divided into a strong group at the coming European Championship. The Orange squad has three players from Limburg: Larissa Nusser, Inger Smits and Harma van Kreij.
The draw linked the team of national coach Per Johansson to France, Romania and North Macedonia, one of the host countries. France is by far the strongest opponent. The team is reigning Olympic champion and finished second at the last World Cup.
Qualification
The Orange squad won its last game in qualifying for the European final round against Greece 40-11 last Sunday. The team therefore qualified as an unbeaten group winner for the European Championship, which will be held in November in three countries, namely Slovenia, North Macedonia and Montenegro. The Netherlands plays its group matches in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.
Tokyo
The handball players finished sixth at the previous European Championship in 2020. In the final round two years before, there was bronze and silver at the European Championships in 2016. The world title in 2019 is the highlight so far. At the Tokyo Games in the summer of 2021, the Orange squad played a strong tournament up to the quarterfinals. Then France won 32-22.
European Championship and World Cup
Romania has often been an opponent of the Netherlands at European and World Cups. At the European Championship of 2020, the Orange squad won 35-24 in the main round against the Eastern Europeans. At the 2021 World Cup, both countries met again in the main round and the Netherlands won 31-30. The top two countries in the group qualify for the main round. If the Netherlands succeeds in this, Poland, Montenegro, Spain and Germany will be the possible opponents.
Balanced draw
National coach Johansson thinks that his team is in a tough group, but is still satisfied. “It is a balanced draw if you look at the four groups. I think France is the best team in our group, but Romania and North Macedonia are okay,” said the Swede. “And if we make it to the main round, we have to face equal opponents. I have a good feeling about it. It’s great that we now know our opponents, now the preparation can begin.”