After about twenty minutes of play, France also became a bit sloppy. The Netherlands came back to 11-16, thanks in part to Rinka Duijndam, who was put in the goal instead of Wester, and a fiercely defending Nycke Groot.
Yet it was not enough and the teams went into halftime with a comfortable lead for France: 19-11.
Agony
In the second half, the task for the Netherlands was clear: to score goals. That worked well in the initial phase, but the game was too weak to really make it difficult for France. After ten minutes it was 23-17.
Also in the sequel, the Orange did not come into their game. The match ended in agony for the Orange. France took the time to attack and the Dutch had little to say defensively against the strong play of circle player Pauletta Foppa. With eleven minutes left on the clock, the difference was ten goals: 29-19.
Farewell Big
The loss to France means the end of Nycke Groot’s handball career. In January 2019, the handball player already put an end to her career as an Orange international, but after a phone call from national coach Emmanuel Mayonnade at the end of last year, it started to itch at Groot again.
Shortly afterwards, the mid-level player already announced that she would stop handball after this season, which was hard for her after the lost quarterfinal against France. “It’s a great pity to end it like this,” said the weeping Groot afterwards. “I have enjoyed it so much until today. In an hour I will be very proud and I can look at it differently, but now I am very disappointed.”
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