Flash quotes: 10 December
DEBRECEN/VIENNA - Comments from players and coaches after Sweden beat Montenegro 25:24, France beat Hungary 30:27 and Poland beat Romania 29:24 in main round group I on Tuesday.
Additional comments from Netherlands head coach Henrik Signell (SWE) and goalkeeper Yara ten Holte (NED), and Denmark head coach Jesper Jensen and goalkeeper Anna Kristensen (both DEN) at media calls on Tuesday.
SWEDEN 25:24 MONTENEGRO
Tomas Axnér (SWE) – head coach
On the match:
"We won it by one goal and we had to win to be in the fifth-place match in Vienna, but it was a hard game, a close game: two good defences and two good goalkeepers.
“I think were a little bit better when you see the whole game, but Montenegro never gave up, they always fight and they are very clever about how they play. It was a tight game, but we won in the end."
On whether finishing in fifth place would be a success for Sweden:
"We are awaiting a very good game against very strong opponent, maybe it's Denmark or the Netherlands, it's good to play in this game and that will be the highest possible place for us at this stage, so we go for it."
Jamina Roberts (SWE) – centre back
On the match:
"It feels good, we managed to win a tight game and that was good that we can play further in the tournament, but also for our self-confidence."
On whether she is happy with how the tournament panned out for Sweden:
"Yes and no. Of course we wanted more, but this is the situation and we managed to win this game and now we are going to Vienna and the fifth place is only one worse than what we are used to."
Suzana Lazovic (MNE) – head coach
On the match:
"On the first way I'm sad; on the second I'm proud as they tried to give their best. I think we lost because of ourselves because we had a lot of technical mistakes with missing goals, some things not going well, but I'm happy that until the end we had a chance and we were all time there.
“But we must understand that Sweden have the number of players that Montenegro have citizens.
“All of our nation should be proud because this is an experience for everyone of us and now, we will see what's good and what's not and prepare for the qualifications for the World Championship."
On their development as a team:
"When you compare Montenegro in the last 12 years, we have three medals. We need time for the coming generation and we're not France that every year we have medals.
“Yes, we won, but generations change and you can see a lot of young players and you need to understand we are not Norway, France or Hungary and they all have the amount of players that Montenegro have citizens. But we showed that we are close and we lost because of ourselves and that's a big step for us and for the future."
Armelle Attingré (MNE) – goalkeeper
On the match:
"I feel a bit sad because we finished not in the best way and it's a mix of emotions, we fought good today and that's it."
On whether she's proud about how they performed at the tournament:
"We will see with a clear mind after we have rest, but for now yes, because everything came from the heart."
HUNGARY 27:30 FRANCE
Vlagyimir Golovin (HUN) – head coach
On the match:
"For sure we wanted to win, but we knew it will be a tough game and in the second half, maybe the difference was Hatadou Sako's performance and one can say that the more experienced team won today."
On the final weekend:
"Even though we lost today, the atmosphere was fantastic and we hope that we can take something from Debrecen with us in Vienna and let's hope that we will have a better game in the semi-finals."
Petra Simon (HUN) – centre back
On the match:
"France played really good today and it was a pretty hard game against us, we tried something to get out of this match and I'm really sorry that we didn't manage to stop them and stop their fast play. But our fans was with us as always and they helped us in so many battles."
On whether the defeat dents their confidence:
"I don't think so, but of course we are a bit more tired and we may have lost a bit of our focus on the court. We have to have this confidence that we have with us for the past six games and I hope that we can play good against Norway and show that we are capable of fighting."
Sebastien Gardillou (FRA) – head coach
On the match:
"We were fit in defence and very quick in ability. And we stopped a lot of attacks, I'm proud of my players because we worked and we decided together what was the important thing to do it in defence. Touch and block the players far from our goal and we did it."
On their unbeaten record at the EHF EURO 2024:
"We are OK and definitely first in this group after the main round, but I close this folder and we start something new.
“It's good for confidence, but it's not the most important thing, it's important to be better and better, game after game until the last game."
Estelle Nze-Minko (FRA) – left back
On the match:
"I'm happy. We really wanted to win this game and to stay in the dynamic that we are in now and we've been winning everything so far, we showed against strong opponents to ourselves that we are in a good path and that's what happened today.
“It was a tough game as expected, we had to be really strong and we showed some really nice things together, so I'm really proud of the team tonight.”
On the semi-finals:
"Losing now would have been a little tough on our confidence. We wanted to go to the semi-finals full with energy and we'd been doing right all the way, even though it doesn't mean anything and every game is a new game. But I think we can learn a lot from this game. Plus, even though we won, we also made mistakes and there's a lot to take from this game and take it to the semi-finals."
ROMANIA 24:29 POLAND
Florentin Pera (ROU) – head coach
On the match:
"It was a tough match for us, especially in the second half as we didn't have enough energy to fight until the end. The first half was good for us, we tried to play good in defence and it was very good, but in the second half we didn't play together in defence and left too much space and it was hard to win this game."
On the Women's EHF EURO 2024:
"It was a really good tournament for us, we have a young team with a lot of young players who are first time at the EHF EURO."
Sorina Grozav (ROU) – left back
On the match:
"It was a hard game for us, we fight until the end and we couldn't win, but we are happy because we had a good tournament."
On Romania's performances at the Women's EHF EURO 2024:
"I think it was the best tournament for us and it gave us hope for the future."
Arne Senstad (NOR) – head coach, Poland
On the match:
"It was a close game from the start, we played some good defence and again we started to make mistakes and the score was not so high, but then we continued in the second half and it was really, really good.
“The goalkeepers, the defence was good and we started to solve our situations in attack, playing good attack against their five-one (defence), sometimes it was really hard for us, but we started to run a little bit.
“Finally, this is what we hoped for and we got the win. We also thought that we had chances against Montenegro, but the mistakes took away this from us. It was important to end the tournament with a win."
On the EHF EURO 2024 as a whole:
"I'm always happy with this squad, we worked tough together to try to develop the Polish handball, to try to take some steps with the national team and we have been working hard for many years, but we were struggling a little bit this year with injuries.
“So, the physical preparation hasn't been too good, but we can see with this result that it's our best result in many, many years. For sure, I'm happy with this team."
Aleksandra Rosiak (POL) – left back
On the match:
"It was a tough game from the beginning, but in the end we showed how we can play handball and we won the game."
On the tournament as a whole:
"I think we should show more our skills because we didn't play good, but we won today and we are happy."
NETHERLANDS
Henrik Signell (SWE) – head coach, Netherlands
On the important game against Denmark:
“It's always a pressure when you play matches like this, but I just see it as a positive pressure. Denmark are very good team, with lot of strength, great individual players with different skills. They also play good as a team in both defence and attack.
“We need to do a really good match and we need to be good all over the court in all 60 minutes. It's a tough challenge, but we know we had the capacity. We like the position to be a bit underdog maybe in the game.”
On the players knowing each other:
“Both teams know each other and players know each other so well you can't say is it an advantage or disadvantage. We will have to see who will use that knowledge in the best way.”
Yara ten Holte (NED) – goalkeeper
On fighting for the semi-finals:
“We knew that in our group phase and preliminary round that the game against Germany would decide a lot and that's also how we expected it. We knew that if we win, we would have this chance and if we would lose, then it's going to be too tough.
“Now we won that match and we knew that we were going to be in this position if we do our things and what everybody expect of us. So, maybe if you would ask before the tournament, I would have some doubts, but during the tournament, I felt that this position would come.”
On the game against Denmark:
“I think Denmark is better for us than Norway game was. Norway has a strong defence and they ran a lot of counter-attacks, but I think against Denmark, we are more equal and then it's about small details in the attack and in defence, which are going to decide the game.
“It's going to be a close game, a tough game, but both teams will throw everything in to reach the semi-final. Overall, we can be really proud that we are so close, but if you are so close, you also want to achieve it.”
On their advantage:
“We played a lot against them, in the Golden League and in the Olympics, so we know them good. And we play with lot of girls and of course they also know us, but I think we can adapt to specific situations quite easily, so now we have to bring that on the court.”
On knowing the Danish players:
“It's going to be a defensive game from both sides and both goalkeepers will try to help their teams in the best way. It's an advantage to play with them or play against them and train with them in regular.
“But of course, also they have an advantage as they know me as a goalkeeper really good, but it's all about who can adapt the best situation to this situation.”
DENMARK
Jesper Jensen (DEN) – head coach
On their chances against the Netherlands:
“I think it's a fair 50:50 chance. Both teams are very strong and can play at high level. The Netherlands are always playing little up and down during the tournament. For example, when they won the World Championship in 2019, they lost three games, but still became the champions.
“I think the mentality in the Netherlands is when it's going to get though, they get going. I expect them to be on the top level tomorrow and we'll have to put up our best performance to win and be in front. ”
On Denmark’s strengths:
“The crucial moment for us is our defence. They have so many strong individuals in the team, and you have to put up a strong defence and if we succeed in that, and the goalkeepers are having a great game then we will be in the semi-finals.”
On both teams’ players:
“There will be so many out of those 32 players that have been in the Danish league so it goes both ways, that knowledge about the players. It's a little advantage for the goalkeepers to know about the players so I think it's equal in the end.”
Anna Kristensen (DEN) – goalkeeper
On the game against Slovenia:
“Slovenia did a great tournament overall. They have been difficult to play against. I think a lot of teams have played bad against them and it’s because they have made it difficult to play against them.”
On what they need to improve:
“We need to improve some things in the defence, especially from the first half against Slovenia. But I'm not that worried. I think we have played well in the defence in a lot of other matches against opponents which are more like the Netherlands.”
On the game against the Netherlands:
“Of course there is pressure, it's an important game. Both teams really want to go to that semi-final and both teams who maybe see themselves as a semi-finalists.
‘’We know it's going be a great fight, but it's also the kind of match you love to play as a handball player. That's what makes it so great and it’s fun to be here at the EUROs. I’m really looking forward to it.”
On their strengths:
“Our strength will be the defence, if we can manage to do it as well as we did against Germany and Norway. And I think we have played well in the attack as well. So if we can kind of combine the two things, it will be great.
“The Netherlands have world class players on every position. So we need to really step up and be prepared because we know it's going to be difficult.”
On the Dutch goalkeepers:
“Yara (ten Holte) is a great goalkeeper. I think when we are at this level every goalkeeper knows all the players so well because we meet each other in the (EHF) Champions League and Danish league.
“Also Rinka (Duijndam) is amazing, and the goalkeepers of our team as well. It will be a great battle and we will see who will win.”
On knowing her opponents:
“I like to know my opponents well, it makes it more calm for me. I’m more relaxed then, but sometimes it can be also a trick because they know me as well. It could be both an advantage and disadvantage.”
