Flash quotes: 9 December
DEBRECEN/VIENNA - Comments from players and coaches after Denmark beat Slovenia 33:26, Norway beat Germany 32:27, and the Netherlands beat Switzerland 37:29 in main round group II on Monday.
Additional comments from France head coach Sebastien Gardillou and left back Estelle Nze Minko (both FRA), and Hungary head coach Vlagyimir Golovin and centre back Petra Simon (both HUN) at media calls on Monday.
DENMARK 33:26 SLOVENIA
Jesper Jensen (DEN) – head coach
On the key to the win against Slovenia:
“I think Slovenia has put together a very strong tournament so far, but five of the players have played more than 200 minutes each player.
“We didn't have anyone above 200 today before today, so I think the physical strength of the team did the difference and that was also what we hoped, to put them under pressure from the start, and then take them during the second half.”
On whether they changed anything for the second half:
“We played a little bit under stress in the first half. I think we tried too much. We would like to put the pressure on them by running, but we took some pretty unfocused shots in the first half. I think we set a little bit better in the second half and that made Slovenia fight for the goals a little bit more.”
Anne Mette Hansen (DEN) – left back
On what decided the win for Denmark:
“I think the defence. We knew they had a lot of players who need to play a lot of minutes and they have done that so far. We saw some statistics before the game that a lot of those players almost played one hour more than the player we have played the most with, so we knew they will be very tired today.”
Sandra Toft (DEN) – goalkeeper
On making her EHF EURO 2024 debut:
“I have a lot of feelings. I'm just happy that we won the game and that we are one step closer to the semi-finals.”
On Slovenia:
“Slovenia did a really good tournament so far, many teams struggled against them. They're a new young team and I think they have a bright future.”
On advice to her fellow goalkeepers, Althea Reinhardt and Anna Kristensen:
“I think I’m full of advices. I like to try to teach, but those two goalkeepers are amazing. They are crazy big talents and I think they did so, so good so far and they just have to keep going.”
Dragan Adžic (MNE) – head coach, Slovenia
On their performance:
“I’m very satisfied because Denmark is a great team and maybe first or second favourite for this competition.
“For us maybe a little problem, because it’s six games and a little tired, a few players. But very very good, because in this game, the first goal for the senior national team scored two players, young players. Very very good for our future.”
Tjaša Stanko (SLO) – left back
On the defeat:
“The experience, we don’t have as much as they do, and they have the rotation. But I am proud of my team, everybody got a chance. We prepared the situation for them, so just collecting the experience here.”
On their performance:
“We did so many good things and we will keep them. We are not focusing on mistakes, because we need to go forward. One match is still here for us, so we will do recovery and do our best against Germany.”
Nusa Fegic (SLO) – centre back
On the game against Denmark:
“I’m very proud of all the girls that played today. We showed our fighting spirit and confidence. It was clear in the first half we are enjoying playing this game and Denmark were struggling.
“Unfortunately, our strength declined in the second half and they showed their experience. Despite losing there were a lot of good things and we have a good ground to build on in the future.”
On the next game against Germany:
“We are entering every game with a wish to win. Germany will be no different. We will need to be well organised in the defence and keep mistakes in the attack on the minimum to stop their easy goals. We can also enter this game without pressure, we are young and less experienced team, but we will try to show what we are able.”
NORWAY 32:27 GERMANY
Thorir Hergeirsson (ISL) – head coach, Norway
On what decided the win for Norway:
“It was our first half defence and goalkeeper. In the second half we controlled the game, even though they come three or four goals behind. I think we controlled the game. Maybe a little bit lack of focus, and the intensity, in the last part of the second half.
“But I think we played well total, overall. We played with many players. This can sometimes disturb the rhythm.”
On what the team should focus on once taking the lead:
“The same things. We have our methods in defence. Our methods in attack. We have our play. We want to play with the players which are on the pitch — we play what is good for them, their qualities. And stay focused.
“We didn't stay so focused in the first half, in a period there. They got some contra attacks. But I think we changed it and had a good first half. Second half started well. Last 15 minutes, a little bit lack of concentration.”
Kari Brattset Dale (NOR) – line player
On what decided the victory:
“The defence was crucial in the beginning there. We don't let many goals in and we don't get that many balls on the goal. Silje (Solberg-Østhassel) is also doing a great first half there, so we got a good lead.”
On what they talked about in the last timeout:
“We talked about trying to be there in the defence more and then don't think about the referees or being frustrated about anything. Just focus on ourselves.”
On taking a win like this with some late pressure:
“It's useful to feel this pressure. Of course, this win, to take the semi-final is the most important. Now we’re there, and we're excited.”
Stine Skogrand (NOR) – right back
On securing a place in the semi-finals:
“It's the best feeling. We know that we had two chances to get to the semi-final, and the only thing we wanted was to make it tonight. And we did. Now we can only look forward to the final weekend. It's very exciting to see who we're going to meet there.”
On the win against Germany:
“We had a good start and good lead, but then suddenly they were three goals behind and it was a game again. We played with calmness in the end and Katrine (Lunde) also got some important saves, same as Silje (Solberg-Østhassel) in the first half. So, we're just very happy with the game.”
On their rotation:
“The rotation is our strength, especially this tournaments that we don't have Stine (Oftedal) and Nora (Mørk), but we have so many other players that can come in and make a change. So it's just super cool to be a part of it.”
Markus Gaugisch (GER) – head coach
On the key to the result:
“In the beginning we didn't find weapons against the power they had and so we go down. But then we feel free, we played with luck, with coolness, with spirit, with fun to play handball, and this was a nice performance.”
On what they talked about at half-time:
“We just talked about that in the end of the first half, we also played well and then we talked about doing this the whole time. Again running, fighting, give them pressure to win balls, and in offence we need to be flexible. And we did today.”
Julia Behnke (GER) – line player
“Our beginning was pretty shitty and the Norwegian girls, they came with full speed and full power. They made a really good job at the beginning and then we came back but then it was it was too hard.”
On the second half and their improved performance:
“We were more aggressive in defence and also then in the attack we had more patience and then also we scored our goals.”
Emily Bölk (GER) – left back
On the defeat against Norway:
“The start was not the best. I have to agree on that. Too many easy mistakes in the attack, and then, of course, Norway is one of the best teams in in counterattack and they used it against us.
“After some minutes we found our game, we had some good movements in the attack, but maybe not always the best decision. But for me, I really take a lot of positive things from this game. I think Annika (Lott) did great today as playmaker and did a lot of good decisions.
“We played more creative than in the last matches. And we could also see that Norway had some struggle in between the game. In the end we could come a bit closer but still well deserved win for Norway.”
On missing the final weekend:
“We always go into the matches and try to give best performance that we can. Not in all matches we succeeded.
“Now we have one more match left against Slovenia and we want to win. Then we have that seventh or eighth place which was the minimum goal to achieve. We need to work, this is a process the team is in, and there are a lot of things we need to work on.
“That work will continue after the tournament; I really hope that we can improve a lot until the next tournament (the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship), which is at home in Germany.”
SWITZERLAND 29:37 NETHERLANDS
Knut Ove Joa (NOR) – head coach, Switzerland
On the differences between the teams which decided the outcome:
“Something about speed is a challenge for us, but we also played two different halves. We are really proud of the second half, that we stepped up, and showed that we can also be with one of the best teams in the world.”
On what they talked about at half-time:
“We have to adjust a little bit and we knew at the start of the game that they will come fast, but we have challenges with that. We wouldn't run home so good. The discipline was not there.
“And we also met them too high up in the field, so it was too easy for them to get the goals. We had to see if we can also play with one patience in attack so they don't get easy goals and also try to come a little bit more back so we have more compact defence.”
Alessia Riner (SUI) – left wing
“We didn't defend good, or not enough aggressive, especially in the first half. The second half was then better, because the second half we only lost with one goal. But I think the defence is really a big difference because we got 24 goals in the first half. That's too much.”
On their strategy coming into the game:
“We said that they run really fast and the wings are really good and that they play really fast. They know each other really well, that they play really fast, and we concentrated a little bit on that, but it didn't work so much in the first half.”
Henrik Signell (SWE) – head coach, Netherlands
On what decided the game:
“Especially our attack and fast breaks in the first half. We ran a lot and scored a lot of goals in fast break. We played together, we had good cooperation, and good individual performances in the first half.”
On what was important for the Netherlands in the second half when Switzerland played better:
“We were seven up in half-time and it's not easy to keep the focus all the time. We had also the chance to make some changes to give some players some rest. I felt quite calm in the second half.”
Zoë Sprengers (NED) – left wing
On the key to the win:
“We ran a lot of fast breaks. The defence was OK. I think it can be a little bit better, but we just kept on running and then you can see that we are really good in our contra.”
On this win leading into the crucial next game:
“In the beginning of the tournament, this was our goal and we made it. But now we will look forward to Denmark and I am really curious about the match, what it will bring.”
FRANCE
Sebastien Gardillou (FRA) – head coach
On his expectations for the game against Hungary:
“My first expectation is to play in front of a lot of people in the stands. I think it is possible. And after this, to be better than in the last game, against Sweden. Because for me, to improve all the time, game after game, is my only objective and I am very happy when I am sure that the players understand how we decided to organise ourselves and make it on the court.”
On the team's main improvements since the start of the tournament:
“We play faster in counterattack and breakthroughs, this is the first thing. We improved our defence in 6-0, because we have incredible defence in 1-5, we have Estelle Nze Minko in the 4-1.
“After the Olympics we discovered that we fell down to being the sixth nation in defence. And I decided with my staff to be better during this championship. Game after game I had the feeling that we changed some things and it was better, this is my second purpose.”
On their possible semi-final opponents:
“For the other group, they have only played two games and things can change. For me, the most important thing is to be better against Hungary than we were against Sweden, after that we will see.
“I can’t decide which opponent we will have in the semi-finals. If we want to win this competition it’s possible to lose just one match, but not the semi-finals. It’s difficult, but I am sure that we have the spirit and the heart in this team to be better, to be very compact together and that will change the future and our destiny.”
Estelle Nze Minko (FRA) – left back
On her expectations for the game against Hungary:
“To win, as simple as that. I think we both have a good dynamic in this competition, we’ve been winning everything so far.
“Even though we both know we are going to the semi-finals in Vienna, we also want to keep that dynamic going on, you don’t want to feel a little down or have a loss right before heading into the semi-finals. It’s important for both of us to win this game.
“About us, the French national team, I feel that we’ve been doing well in a way, we won everything, but at the same time I still feel that we have a little margin (to improve). I think we haven’t played our best collective handball yet.
“This extra game against Hungary might be a good opportunity for us to improve and show that we can be a little better. We’ve been better throughout the competition a little bit for every game, so we need this extra step before going to Vienna. This is what we want there.”
On their possible semi-final opponents in group II:
“I’ve been following them a little, but to be honest we’ve been playing so many games in a row and focusing mainly on my group and our opponents. So I haven’t been watching many games on the other side, but of course I know what’s going on there.
“I know that Norway is in, that probably the game between Denmark and the Netherlands is going to be the most important one to settle second place in their group. But I have been really focusing on our side.”
On what it would mean to get another EHF EURO trophy with France:
“It would mean a lot. I am not necessarily thinking about the last time we won the European championship because it was a long time ago, in another context.
“This year has been pretty crazy for our national team. We were world champions a year ago, then we got silver in the Olympics, so to have another medal would mean three medals in one year.
“That would say a lot about how we work, how invested we are, our level as a team, especially now that we have a new staff organisation, a new head coach.
“I would be very happy for the team if we could prove to ourselves that we are still managing whatever happens around us, we are still managing to be among the best teams.”
HUNGARY
Vlagyimir Golovin (HUN) – head coach
On securing a place in the semi-finals:
"We are really happy and we are looking forward for the semi-final, which will be a whole new experience for both the players and the staff, as we haven't reached with this team this phase of the tournament so far. But we hope that we can take it with ourselves this kind of feeling and flow that we have here in Debrecen."
On the next match, against France:
"The participants of the semi-finals are all top teams and France is one of them. Of course, it will be kind of a good preparation game, but also we will fight the same way because we are still at home court in front of our spectators and it will decide who will be on top of the group after the main round. It's still an important game for us."
On whether they will miss Debrecen's atmosphere in Vienna:
"It will be different, but we hope that many Hungarian fans will also come to Vienna to watch our games at the final weekend. And obviously, they helped us a lot to perform in the way that we've done so far. But we look forward and we hope that we can feel at home there in Vienna, too."
Petra Simon (HUN) – centre back
On securing a place in the semi-finals:
"It's unbelievable now that we have slept on it and we are still feeling really good and that it has happened. It's been 12 years ago that Hungary got in the semi-final and we are really happy about that. But still, there is one match in the main round left and we hope that we can win against France because we are at home and we want to serve our fans."
On their hopes of the final:
"I hope that we can get to the final. We really want that. And also I think we are very strong now. Our defence is compact and our goalkeepers are really good. In attack, we can find the solutions that we want and we fight like hell in every game. I hope that we can achieve something big this weekend."
On her performance against Romania:
"I really enjoyed it yesterday. I played as a right back first and it was good because I can make passes to the right wing or I can fly through some things, but thank you. In every match I want to make a difference when I'm on the court."
On the final main round match against France:
"We want to win against France. We want to end up in the first place in our group because we can face the second one in the other group and that's how we can avoid Norway. That would be really good for us.
“And we play at home, we want to serve our fans and every victory that we have taken has given us so much power and strength that we can use it in the future and get something from it."
