Flash quotes: 6 December
DEBRECEN/VIENNA - Comments from players and coaches after Hungary beat Poland 31:21, France beat Montenegro 31:23 and Romania beat Sweden 25:23 in main round group I on Friday.
Additional comments from Slovenia centre back Blazka Hauptman and right back Špela Bajc (both SLO); Germany centre back Annika Lott and left Xenia Smits (both GER); and Netherlands right wing Angela Malestein and left back Lois Abbingh (both NED) at media calls in Vienna on Friday.
HUNGARY 31:21 POLAND
Vlagyimir Golovin (HUN) – head coach
On the match:
"We were preparing for a tough game today and it was kind of a new situation because we had to play two matches in two days without rest, but our stamina was good and it was a physical advantage on our side."
On being so close to the semi-finals:
"We have a rest day and we will try to rest and prepare for the next game, which will be a usual next game for us. Of course, we know how important it will be, but we are just focusing on the match."
Nikoletta Papp (HUN) - right back
On the match:
"I think that we were both tired and there were some unforced mistakes, but I think that most important it was that we left the court with two points."
Arne Senstad (NOR) – head coach, Poland
On the match:
"We were up against a really good team who showed their skills and really impressed. A lot of enthusiasm in their play, good players individually and also playing good together. So, it's really tough for us to stay against them in defence especially.
“We also showed that maybe we don't have the quality all over and we don't have the same power as at the start of the tournament, especially the one that we had in the game against Spain. We are struggling when we meet teams like this.
“First half was tough, a lot of mistakes and we couldn't keep it, we changed a lot, but we need to improve and we need to try again on Sunday."
Daria Michalak (POL) – left wing
On the match:
"I'm so angry, we didn't realise our plan which we had before the match. Our defence was also bad and Hungary had many counter-attacks. We will for sure analyse this match and take what's best from it, but it will be hard to find points."
On the next matches:
"We have to keep our heads up and don't give up and after tomorrow we will fight for our first points."
FRANCE 31:23 MONTENEGRO
Sebastien Gardillou (FRA) – head coach
On the match:
"It was a tough game, like usually against Montenegro, and I thought it will be more difficult with their specific attack with (Matea) Pletikosic and (Itana) Grbic, and they didn't use it more. It was a good thing for our team as we had the chance to change some players and that was necessary with two games so quickly.”
On the secret to their success:
"There is no secret, we improve because this is our goal and match after match we try to find some solutions against each team and we found some things to change after our game against Romania. We like to progress all the time and be good in attack and defence."
Laura Glauser (FRA) – goalkeeper
On the match:
"It was a tough game and we knew that they will fight, kick us and not give us the game, but we fought until the end and never give up and I think that's why we won the match."
On being selected as the Player of the Match, presented by Grundfos:
"I'm happy, but for me, more important is that we won together and doesn't matter if I'm the best player or not, we won and played together and this is what I want from my team."
Suzana Lazovic (MNE) – head coach
On the match:
"In the first half we had a chance, but in the second half we started bad, I can tell that we are tired and now I can see that we started the second half with a bad feeling and that's sports. And we can clearly see this and we will work for the next situations and we need to step up in the next matches."
On the next matches in the main round:
"First, we need to see this match and the previous match as we didn't have time to analyse it. I think we need to come out of this mentality and pressure."
Katarina Dzaferovic (MNE) – right back
On the match:
"We did a lot of technical mistakes and missed shots, and that decided the match."
On the next games against Poland and Sweden:
"One thing is sure, we need to play better and play more like a team. We should stop making a lot of technical mistakes I think the defence needs to be better than today, but I'm sure that we will analyse and the next games will be better."
SWEDEN 23:25 ROMANIA
Tomas Axnér (SWE) – head coach
On the match against Romania:
"I think it was a very bad start from us, we were very passive in the first 15 minutes in our game and made a lot of technical faults and Romania came with a lot of power and belief that that could beat us today.
“We were six goals down in the first half, and one of the worst halves that we have played especially in attack during my five years as Sweden's coach. Then, we were too fragile in the second half as we had enough chances to equalise and win the game. "
On the main reason behind their poor performance:
"I don't know, I have to ask the players what their feelings are about the game, maybe we had some focus on the upcoming games against France and Montenegro and forgot that we have to go 100 per cent against Romania also."
Nathalie Hagman (SWE) – right wing
On the match:
"I'm really disappointed, it's a game that we should have won, but I think Romania played a really good game. We had some problems during the whole game to score, we didn't play like Sweden usually plays."
On whether the defeat crushed their confidence:
"We still have a chance to reach the semi-finals. We can be disappointed now, but in two days we need to be ready and play much better than this to beat France who are a very good team. We need to speak about the things from today and hopefully, beat France in the next game."
Florentin Pera (ROU) – head coach
On the match:
"In my opinion, we played really good in defence and that was the key, and we picked the best solutions and options for our team. We looked like a family, we had mentality, we had team spirit, energy and I'm very proud of my players.
“We have one of the youngest teams at the Women's EHF EURO 2024 and we rebuilt the team, but today we showed that we have future with this. Yesterday, also against France we played really good handball and I'm very about this result. But we don't want to stop here, we continue to fight and work and we want to be at the top in the future."
On whether he had belief that they will hold onto the lead:
"We had some players in the second half who were tired and had some physical problems, but we had team spirit and that was a key for our team. We didn't give up, we were calm and we played like a team. Not one player won the game, but a team won the game and we like to play like a family."
Bianca Bazaliu (ROU) – left back
On the match against Sweden:
"I'm so happy and proud of my team and I just want to congratulate them (my teammates) because we were fighting whole game."
SLOVENIA
Blazka Hauptman (SLO) – centre back
On defeat by the Netherlands on Thursday:
“It was a good game for us, we played good. In the second half we actually had a little bit chances to surprise the Netherlands, but their goalkeeper (Yara ten Holte) at the end was phenomenal, she saved a few important shots from our team. A little bit luck and these shots decided the game.”
On their performance:
“After the bad start of the game, we came back to the game.
“We didn’t give up. We fought until the end and we showed a good match for us.”
On the game against Switzerland:
“Switzerland is a young team like we are, but I think that with our powerful game, with our emotions and good atmosphere, we can play against them and we can win against them.”
Špela Bajc (SLO) – right back
On what to take forward after defeat by the Netherlands:
“We need to fight until the end, it’s not over until it’s actually over. We need to fight, we need to stand together.”
On the team’s development:
“The team grew a lot. We did a big job. We encourage each other, we had the European spirit.”
On the game against Switzerland:
“Switzerland is a fast team, a young team, it will be a great match I think. We need to do everything that we can, and we will see.”
GERMANY
Annika Lott (GER) – centre back
On the win against Switzerland:
‘’It was a nice team play and I was also happy that I could play a little bit. It was a good game and now for the next game, we don’t have any pressure. We go into every game to give our best and we’ll see what will come out in the end.’’
On being back in the team after illness:
‘’I'm feeling good now. I was a little bit sad or annoyed that I got a little bit of a headache after the first game, so I was not allowed to play the second game in the preliminary run. So I'm just happy now that I am back and I'm a part of the team, and that I could play against Switzerland.’’
On the game against Denmark:
‘’I also saw their match against Norway yesterday. It was a tough game. Denmark are one of the top nations and we have to give 100 per cent to win because they have good individual players, and they can also play good as a team. It will be tough.”
On what could be the key:
“It's always the best thing to have a strong defence and to make some easy and fast goals because with this, you always break the opponent. Later today we will have a video analysis and then we talk about our like tactics and what we need to be focused on.”
Xenia Smits (GER) – left back
On the win against Switzerland:
“It was important to us to arrive in the main round, and get some points, and have a good flow for the upcoming games.”
On the game against Denmark:
“The game against Norway was very tough for Denmark, and also the result was not that good so maybe they are a little tired. However, we know they are very quick to recover. It will be an exciting game to play.
“We have to run home very fast and take away their fast break. Therefore, we should not make easy mistakes because then they punish them immediately. We also have to put a big and compact, strong defence. They are very strong in one-against-one, that's what we know, and we have to be physically, really awake to avoid them running just through us.”
NETHERLANDS
Angela Malestein (NED) – right wing
On the game against Norway:
“It's a good thing that we played two games now recently against them in Golden League. And we didn't play that well, only one really good half. Maybe we can do it better this time. Maybe it will be third time lucky for us, but we are aware it will be a really hard task for us.”
On the key players:
“They also have good goalkeepers, but I hope we can expect both defences to be good and our goalkeepers also. I think it will be interesting to play that game.”
Lois Abbingh (NED) – left back
On the game against Norway:
“I feel like they are at least one step ahead of us if you compare the squad and everything, but on the other hand it is also handball, and you know that if it's 60 minutes and if you fight and if you have a good day, that everything can happen.
“It's also better for us if we just try to see this game as OK, we go with the same fighting spirit and we will see what the result will be in the end. And we do not have so much pressure.”
