Goalkeeper Rodrigo Corrales played a pivotal role, making 14 crucial saves that kept Veszprém in the game.Continue reading
The Hungarian women’s handball team secured a place in the semi-finals of the European Championship with a 29-19 victory over North Macedonia, finishing the group stage as leader. This win follows two earlier group victories over Turkey (30-24) and Sweden (32-25), showcasing the team’s strong form.
In the final group match, coach Vladimir Golovin made some changes to the squad, giving less-played players a chance. Goalkeepers Gréta Kácsor and Blanka Böde-Bíró were replaced by Luca Csíkos and Kinga Janurik, both debuting at the continental tournament. Despite these changes, the first half was marked by missed shots and mistakes, with Hungary leading by only one goal (11-10) at the break. Golovin commented,
we knew in the first half that this game did not have much meaning, we wanted to play it easy so as not to waste a lot of energy.”
After the half-time break, the team’s performance improved significantly, kicking into high gear with a 5-0 run. Golovin acknowledged, “if we do not play at our own pace, our game does not work properly,” and the team responded, finishing with a dominant 10-goal victory. The match highlighted Hungary’s strength, with goalkeeper Zsófi Szemerey saving 11 shots, while Csíkos scored her first goal in an adult world tournament.
As the semi-finals approach, the team will face Montenegro in Debrecen. Mr. Golovin emphasized the need for relaxation before the upcoming challenges, stating, “the girls should try to relax now. On Wednesday, we will be looking at our next opponent.” Hungary’s strong performance and preparation set them up well for the semi-finals.
Via MTI; Featured Image: MTI / Czeglédi Zsolt