DHB-Women open Olympics with disappointment
For the first time since 2008, German women's handball team qualifies for Olympics and is favorite in first group game. But against South Korea, they struggle heavily. The loss follows. The German team is immediately under pressure.
Germany's handball team experienced a bitter surprise in their long-awaited Olympic comeback with a disappointing performance in the attack. Bundestrainer Markus Gaugisch's team lost their first match at the Paris tournament 22:23 (10:11) against Asian champions South Korea and will not be contending for medals in this form. "We wanted to win this match naturally. They were very well prepared, we had plenty of chances but didn't use them," said Right Back Jenny Behrend to Eurosport.
16 years after the last Olympic participation of a German women's handball team, the DHB-Team put on a disjointed performance. The offense, in particular, appeared nervous with Captain Emily Bölk and her teammates lacking cutting edge and efficiency. Best German scorer in front of 5765 spectators in the Arena Sud 6 was Left Back Antje Döll with six goals.
Gaugisch looked helpless on the sidelines. His players on the court showed their poorest performance of the year in the first half and couldn't confirm the upward trend from the test matches. The team's lack of focus could not be rectified even after the break. Poor finishes undid the good defensive work.
Through the unexpected loss, the German team is under pressure in the preliminary round group A. The further opponents in the fight for the quarterfinals, which the best four of the six-team group will reach, are Sweden (Sunday), Slovenia (Tuesday), Denmark (1st August), and Norway (3rd August). The German team's goal is the medal matches.
Tight finish goes to South Korea
"If we want to make it to the quarterfinals, and that's of course the goal, we have to beat South Korea," Co-Captain Alina Grijseels announced full of determination and excitement. Her excitement was evident even during the playing of the national anthems.
After that, the good mood was soon over. Slip-ups, a seven-meter throw missed next to the goal, and technical errors gave South Korea reason to believe. The 6:4 lead through Döll's third goal (13.) did not provide any security, and it was 6:6 after a quarter of an hour.
In the following, an intense battle ensued, in which the defensive lines increasingly dominated. German fans could now notice the impact of Sarah Wachter in goal, who kept her team in the game with some brilliant saves.
In the second half, Gaugisch's team initially increased their efficiency and found more gaps in the quick defense of their opponents, with Wachter remaining a factor. The German team built up a four-goal lead (18:14), but the South Korean team fought their way back and took the lead six minutes before the end (21:20). The match remained tight and thrilling until the end - with the better outcome for South Korea.
Following their disappointing start at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, the Handball national team is facing pressure to perform better in their upcoming group games. Next up for the DHB-Team is a crucial match against Sweden, as they aim to secure a spot in the quarterfinals and chase their goal of medal matches.
Despite the setback against South Korea, left back Antje Döll was the top scorer for Germany with six goals, showcasing the team's potential through individual brilliance. As the competition continues, the German Handball national team needs to improve their overall team performance to turn their fortunes around in Paris.
