Flash quotes: 7 December
DEBRECEN/VIENNA - Comments from players and coaches after Norway beat the Netherlands 31:21, Denmark beat Germany 30:22, and Slovenia beat Switzerland 34:25 in main round group II on Saturday.
Additional comments from Sweden assistant coach Johanna Wiberg and left back Jamina Roberts (both SWE), France head coach Sebastien Gardillou and centre back Tamara Horacek (both FRA), Hungary head coach Vlagyimir Golovin and left wing Nadine Szollosi-Schatzl (both HUN), and Romania head coach Florentin Pera and goalkeeper Raluca Kelemen (both ROU) at media calls in Debrecen on Saturday.
NETHERLANDS 21:31 NORWAY
Henrik Signell (SWE) - head coach
On the defeat against Norway:
“They did prove they are the better team. We knew from the beginning it will be a difficult match. To compete and beat them you need to be almost perfect. Today we weren't.”
On his choice of Rinka Duijndam as starting goalkeeper:
“Not sure it was a big shock to theme, but Yara (ten Holte) has been playing good in previous matches and today Rinka (Duijndam) did. We have two good goalkeepers and I think Rinka proved it today.”
Inger Smits (NED) – centre back
On the defeat:
“We tried to fight for 60 minutes, also if we are behind with many goals – that should always be the case, that’s the DNA we want to have. It’s hard if you’re behind, but we will always keep fighting.”
On what to improve:
“We have to be much more consistent. I think we showed a really good thing sometimes in attack, and also in defence, but it goes too much up and down this game. But nothing is lost, we can learn a lot from this game we have to take with us.
“We have two more games and everything is still open.”
Thorir Hergeirsson (ISL) – head coach, Norway
On the win:
“The key as always in such matches is goalkeeper and defence. We play pretty good defence, and Katrine (Lunde) is excellent.
“In attack it’s more variable. We are building new team, new relations, and we are not so stable in the attack. That’s why we have to be strong in defence and goalkeepers, and I think we got some final counterattacks. And many players played this match, so it’s good for us.”
On the upcoming matches:
“Now we play Germany next game, they play much more physical than the Netherlands do, they play more dynamic defence, so we have to prepare well, find some good solutions and always make good new defence.”
Maren Aardahl (NOR) – line player
On the win:
“It's amazing feeling and the way we won this game with extra amazing great goalkeeper. Katrine (Lunde) is a legend and it's just an honour to play with her. Altogether, amazing team effort.”
On the performance:
“Definitely, good defence and great second half. In the attack there are a lot of players who did not get many playing time so far because we managed to get this gap and is also what was causing a mis-rhythm in our attack. It's important more and more players are getting in the championship.”
DENMARK 30:22 GERMANY
Jesper Jensen (DEN) – head coach
On the win against Germany:
“The crucial moment was our defence and the goalkeeper Anna Kristensen, they did amazing today. Maybe we conceded too much in the first half, but we adjusted some thing.
“We also bounced back from the defeat two days ago and it was important to prove to ourselves that despite everything, we are good. I am very proud of the performance today.”
On defence and Mette Tranborg:
“She did amazing today. She flew down yesterday, had a lot of to do here before the game but she proved, to everyone who were criticising, she proved she is amazing, with many championships played so far. Also, losing (Line) Haugsted during the game was also significant.”
Anna Kristensen (DEN) – goalkeeper
On the win against Germany:
“We are so happy. We know Germany is a strong team. We were satisfied with out performance against Norway but we missed last important details, so we are happy we could do them and win today.”
On her performance:
“I should say the defence was very good and they made it easy for me to be on the goal today. So, a very fun game for me to play.”
Markus Gaugisch (GER) - head coach
On the defeat against Denmark:
“The difference was that we had to work for all the goals very long, we didn't score from back court and intensity was not effective. So we need to work, work, work, and we did for 40 minutes.
“We tried to do different things, 5-1, seven-against-six, but the coolness and quality shows us why they are among top three teams. And it shows we need to develop and one day we might be there.”
On what they need to improve:
“We need to keep this spirit alive. We have to keep working on our things – have good defence and have more fast breaks, we need them. We see that we could not score easy goals.”
Julia Behnke (GER) – line player
On what decided the game:
"I think we started pretty good in the game. The first 30 minutes, it was great. Also, then the start of the second half. Then we lost too many balls."
On what they talked about at half-time:
"That we need to keep on going with the aggressive defence and also have patience in the attack."
Alina Grijseels (GER) – centre back
On the defeat:
“It's disappointing when you lose by this many goals in the end. Because I think it was a good game for 45 minutes. We were not clever and Denmark deserved this win.”
On the performance:
“We had our chances, but the goalkeeper (Anna Kristensen) was very good, with 45 (save) percentage and it's really hard to win a game. We created chances, but if you miss so many of them you can't beat top teams.”
SWITZERLAND 25:34 SLOVENIA
Knut Ove Joa (NOR) – head coach, Switzerland
On the reasons for their defeat against Slovenia:
“Too many missed shots and 18 technical faults, you don't have a chance to win a game with so many mistakes.”
On what they need to improve:
“We are still here and is not that we are living the dream with losing. We are searching for a good performance in main round but we didn't do it today. We were hoping we could get it.
“At some point we were starting to come back in the game, but same things happened again. It's hard work, we need to stay in it. We know we have to work on the things to have a better next game.”
Alessia Riner (SUI) – left wing
On the defeat against Slovenia:
“I think it was a tough game for us. In the second half we didn't find any solutions in the attack, but also in the defence we were not aggressive enough.”
On the reason for the defeat:
“We are tired, but I also think they are also. So we can't be proud of our game. We need to give more, no matter what, and especially in defence.”
Dragan Adžic (MNE) – head coach, Slovenia
On the match:
“I am satisfied, especially on the second half performance. They are on the same level, also young team and have good potential. That's why this win is even more important for my young team.
“Maybe it's because this is the first time we played against Switzerland, and my first-ever game against them even though I'm coach for 25 years. That's why the first half was not that good, we were trying to feel them. And in the second half we enjoyed the game full and I'm satisfied.”
Manca Juric (SLO) – line player
On the win against Switzerland:
“We knew it will be a hard game for us. In the end we managed to win. We are working hard for matches like this and that's why I'm even happier.”
On the way they play:
“For us, it is important that we are playful, that we are smiling and that we have are having fun on the court.”
SWEDEN
Johanna Wiberg (SWE) – assistant coach
On the defeat to Romania:
"I think we did OK in defence yesterday, but we had issues in attack and we had problems with the Romanian goalkeepers."
On whether they are aiming for revenge after losing to France at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:
"We hope so. We know we're going to play against France. They are really good as a team and they have good players in every position. They are very good in defence and have very fast players in the attack.
“But we have played against each other at the Paris 2024 Olympics and we're going to see a lot of attacks from that team that game and look at what we have done good and what we can do better."
Jamina Roberts (SWE) – left back
On how she as a captain lifts her teammates up after a disappointing defeat:
"I'm doing my best as a person and as experienced player, but it's a hard situation for all of us. We are trying together to lift this ship and hoping for a better Sweden tomorrow."
On the match against France:
"We still have a chance to get through to the semi-finals and we will do everything to win that game no matter who's the opponent. France is a good team, but we are not here for revenge against them, we are here go to the semi-finals."
On losing to Romania:
"We made it very difficult for ourselves and we made a lot of technical faults. We are not used to do them and it was not because Romania maybe did something different from what we expected, but that we did some strange stuff."
FRANCE
Sebastien Gardillou (FRA) – head coach
On their winning streak:
“We are in a good mood. I hope it can be the same for the next game because the players are perfectly involved in our strategy. We talk more and it’s a good way for me to understand what they feel.
“The next team is Sweden and for me it’s very important to follow them, to give my competence to the players. But I can’t play, this is the first thing, and it’s better when everything comes from them, to be sure and understand how to play together.”
On the match against Sweden:
“The only thing I have in my mind is the semi-final in France (at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games), it was so tough. Obviously, it is always tough against Scandinavian teams and particularly Sweden, because they know us better.
“It’s a strong team, a smart team, good coach, good players who can shoot from far, good line player, good wing. It will be hard, this is my opinion. We need to play with our hearts and our minds smarter than in our first game against Romania.
“Yesterday (against Poland) was good, because we were better for the last pass and we found some solutions. We were strong in defence, we need to be better to beat Sweden, because I think they are more powerful than us and the key point is to be together the whole time and be strong.”
On their title chances:
“I would like to be able to take it game by game and I think it’s 50-50, it is not important for me to be confident about this. We talk together about what could be the most important thing to do to beat the opponent.
“First, I choose 16 players, I have 20, and I organise my strategy around what the key point of the opponent team is and what tools I have. You will play because I think you can help us and do this or that. I organise my team around one strategy, depending on what I want to do. The other players cheer for us with their hearts. I just want to organise the players with the purpose to beat every opponent and I would like to be smart against Sweden.”
Tamara Horacek (FRA) – centre back
On their winning streak:
“We started really well in the first game, and after that we had some ups and downs, but all games helped us to step up more in different ways, because every game was different. We stayed calm even if it was hard, as a team, and this helped us until now.”
On the match against Sweden:
“We will do everything to win this game because it’s really important. We are sure to go to the semi-finals after this game and I know it will be hard. We know that the last match against Sweden was really hard, so we need to improve and to be better as a team.”
On their title chances:
“I don’t think about this, I take it game by game. It’s probably better to go step by step because when you plan something and it’s not like that, you are disappointed. Of course, I will be disappointed if we don’t reach the semi-finals, but to be honest we need to play much better in attack.”
HUNGARY
Vlagyimir Golovin (HUN) – head coach
On the match against Romania:
"The performance of Romania so far in this tournament didn't surprise us as we played against them one and a half month ago (in a friendly), but maybe the result against Sweden was a bit of surprise, but their goalkeepers were amazing yesterday, so maybe that was the main reason why they got that victory. And of course we are preparing against them."
On the pressure of needing a win:
"It will be an important game for us, but we will try to approach that match as we approach every other match at this tournament. We are preparing and we try not to get immersive thoughts and the players also are preparing the same way. We don't want to give such a high importance to that game as we don't want that in our minds."
Nadine Szollosi-Schatzl (HUN) – left wing
On their unbeaten streak at the Women's EHF EURO 2024:
"We are really happy. It was a long time ago that we started like this. So, I'm really proud of the team and I hope we can keep these performances going."
On the match against Romania:
"I think it will be a tough game against Romania and the next step is France. We will start to prepare today, but I hope our fans can support us still and can help us because they are a really good team."
On their medal chances:
"Maybe it's a bit early to speak about that. We try to go step by step, but still, we try to keep our dreams alive. So, the next step is the game against Romania, then France, and then we can speak about the other things and I hope we will be able to speak about these things."
ROMANIA
Florentin Pera (ROU) – head coach
On the strengths that helped the team so far:
“Team unity was one of our strengths. Since we rebuilt this team, we have tried to have a tight group and a good atmosphere for performance. I have tried to tell the girls that only together we can succeed.
“I think that the team’s attitude was a good one, they were determined and had the will to win. I gave confidence to the young girls, as you know we have no less than seven debutants at the EHF EURO, there are 10 new players compared to the world championship. It wasn’t easy, but we have worked very hard, we believed in our chances.
“I also think that one of our strengths was that we didn’t give up fighting, no matter the opponents and the score. This helped us turn the result of some matches, fight until the last minute. The energy of the team was good, I am satisfied with all that we have accomplished so far.
“We are still at the beginning of the journey to the (Los Angeles 2028) Olympic Games and our main objective is to have a competitive team to represent us at the European and world championships successfully. And, of course, the main objective is the qualification for the Olympic Games in 2028. All that we have accomplished until now proves that we are on the right path.”
On the match against Hungary:
“We expect a very difficult match against the co-hosts, Hungary, a team that will have lots of fans in the stands. Even though Hungary enter the match as favourites and we are the underdogs, this only motivates us to perform better.
“I believe in the team’s potential and their will to improve. Even though we have reached our objective, we don’t want to stop here and want to accomplish even more. Of course we will go into the match against Hungary to achieve exactly the same as in the game against Sweden.
“As you saw, even though we met the world champions, we didn’t give up fighting against France. We will go into the game with respect for the opponents and the will to achieve the maximum from the game. We know that a positive result will give us hopes even for a semi-final ticket. We need to give everything and I know that if the team will fight with the same attitude and drive, no matter the result, our fans will appreciate this.”
Raluca Kelemen (ROU) – goalkeeper
On her performance on her debut:
“I feel good and I am happy that I could help the national team. Reaching such a high level and having good performances makes us proud.”
On the team’s strengths in the tournament:
“First of all, the unity of the team. This made a difference last night (against Sweden) and in the other matches. Secondly, I think that the emotion in our play, the courage and the strength we give one another.”
On how they will prepare for the match against Hungary:
“Just like we did before, we took every match step-by-step, we didn’t think about the future. We will give everything on the court like every time.”
