European Championship: Women’s Handball Team Advances to the Semi-finals

The women’s national handball team defeated Romania 37-29 in the main round of the European Championship in Debrecen on Sunday evening. This qualifies them into the last four, a feat not seen for twelve years. Vladimir Golovin’s squad so far put in a 100% performance, winning their sixth match in a row.

The last meeting between Hungary and Romania took place on September 28 in Tatabánya, when the home team won 37-28. It was also an encouraging sign that Hungary, then bronze medalists, beat Romania in the main round in 2004, and also triumphed over Romania in 2012.

“It was a very difficult match for my young team. We started well, we played excellently in the first 20 minutes, but then we started to make a lot of mistakes. We missed at least ten clear chances when we were just facing the goalkeeper,” Petra Florentin told Nemzeti Sport.

After the break, I tried to change the game plan, but the seven field players did not produce the result. I am proud of my team because my players did not give up, they fought until the end,”

she assessed.

Katrin Klujber was the match’s top scorer with ten goals against Romania and has now scored 37 goals in the tournament, currently tied for second on the tournament scoring list.

Asked about this by MTI, she said she considers the team’s performance more important than individual recognition. “I am happy that there is always someone to carry the team. I was the best today, but I think everyone contributes,” she stressed, noting the importance of the goalkeepers’ saves.

National team coach Vladimir Golovin said that the three matches ahead of them must be as focused as the six matches they have won so far, because “nothing works without concentration.” Although they know that the public is already speculating about with which of the two teams (Norway and Denmark) Hungary will meet in the last four, the squad is currently looking ahead only to the game against France.

Although the semi-final qualification is already secured, Hungary will face France on Tuesday, with the top spot in the group at stake.

Golovin’s side has met the world champions and Olympic silver medalists twice in the preparation period, with Hungary winning one match 30-27 and France 26-22. The semi-finals will take place on Friday at the Stadthalle in Vienna, while the bronze medal match and the final will be played on Sunday at the same venue.

Via Nemzeti Sport, MTI; Featured image: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt