Updated: 10/12/2023 23:45 Issued: 10/12/2023, 18:13
Frederikshavn (Denmark) – The Czech handball players lost to Brazil 27:30 in the last match of the eight-final group at the World Championship, but still made it to the quarterfinals. The defeat of Spain against the Netherlands helped them to participate in the final elimination battles, after which they took the second place. In the quarter-finals on Tuesday in Trondheim, the girls of Norwegian coach Bent Dahl will face the defending silver medalists and reigning Olympic champions from France. At the same time, the national team gained the certainty that it will play for Olympic qualification.
The Czech team in Frederikshavn, Denmark, led 17:16 at halftime, but lost in the second half and finally held on to the loss, which left them in the fight for promotion. Dahl’s charges were allowed to lose by a maximum of four or five goals. The best scorer of the match, Markéta Jeřábková, scored 11 goals.
The Czechs have won four times and lost twice in the six championship matches so far. They finished the round of 16 group, just like Spain and Brazil, with six points, the best score in the mini-table from each other’s duels helped them advance. They will play in the quarterfinals of the World Cup for only the second time since the division of the federation, and at the first major event under coach Dahl, they can surpass the previous high, which is eighth place from 2017 under coach Jan Bašný. The Netherlands dominated the table without defeat.
“We were a bit disappointed because we lost to Brazil. We want to win every time. But we stayed calm at dinner because we did the best we could. I couldn’t have expected more from my players. Now we have the next stage and at least three more matches,” Dahl said in a union media recording.
“It is very important for the whole of Czech handball, for our young players. I don’t know how long it has been since the Czech women’s team achieved such success, we have certain Olympic qualification. I am very proud of what we have achieved,” boasted the fifty-three-year-old Norwegian coach.
Before the final match, the situation in the “Czech” group was very confused. For Dahl’s charges, even a victory might not have been enough to progress, on the contrary, a narrow defeat could have sent him to the elimination phase, which eventually happened. “We went into the championship as outsiders, nobody expected this. The fairy tale continues,” said winger Veronika Malá.
The Czech team started well and kept pace with the 2013 world champions in the first half. The opening act soon turned into a shootout and the score spilled over to both sides due to a number of technical errors. None of the opponents led by more than two goals at the break. In the Czech jersey, Jeřábková shone in particular, who adjusted to 17:16 before the break.
After switching sides, the South American champion began to dominate the pitch and soon turned the tide. The Czechs gradually lost their strength, and coach Dahl had to take a break after 10 minutes of the second act at 20:23.
His charges then managed to pull within one goal several times, but the Brazilians bounced back to within two or three goals each time. The Czechs then failed to convert several clear chances and made the ending even more dramatic, as they could afford to lose by a maximum of five goals and only by four goals with a higher number of Brazilian goals.
The South American team took a 30:26 lead in the 57th minute, but immediately the unstoppable Jeřábková responded. In the key attack, the goalkeeper Novotná, who replaced number one Kudláčková in the Czech goal, easily hit the post and her teammates managed the finish tactically.
“We weren’t able to get to our level today. We were running out of energy, we were tired. At the end, we defended the goal difference. In the end, it was a fight to get more energy,” said Dahl in a union media recording. “When we weren’t able to win, it’s better to lose by three goals than by five or six goals. But I’m still proud of the team. The girls did what they could,” added Dahl.
Thanks to Friday’s great victory of 30:22 over the Spaniards, his charges took second place in the three-team mini-table. A draw would have been enough for the team from the Iberian Peninsula to reach the quarter-finals, but they had no chance against the spirited Netherlands.
Dahl will not see the expected fight against her compatriots in the quarter-finals. In an evening duel between two giants and in a replay of the last world final, the Norwegians surprisingly lost to France 23:24 in Trondheim. The players from the country of the Gallic Rooster also won in the sixth match at the championship. On Tuesday, from 17:30, the Czechs will try to follow up on the sensational 31:30 home win from the last mutual duel last year in April in the European qualification against the reigning Olympic champions from France.
At the first big event under the leadership of coach Dahl, the national team made it to the finals. In addition, for the first time since the division of the federation, he secured participation in the Olympic qualification, which is scheduled for April next year. The new world champion will advance directly to the Paris Games.
Czech Republic – Brazil 27:30 (17:16)
Lineup and goals Czech Republic: Kudláčková, Novotná – Stříšková, Šustáčková 3, Desortová, Stellnerová, Kuxová, J. Franková 1, A. Franková 1, Dresslerová 1, Zachová, Kovářová, Jeřábková 11, Malá 4, Jestříbková 2, Cholevová 4.
Brazil’s most goals: Cardos de Castro 9/7. Referee: Lovinová, Stancuová (both Romanian). Seven-meter throws: 1/1 – 8/7. Exclusion: 2:3. Viewers: 769.
Other Group IV results: Argentina – Ukraine 25:20 (13:11), Netherlands – Spain 29:21 (13:9).
Final table:
1. The Netherlands5500178:115102.Czechia5302138:13063.Brazil5302150:12864.Spain5302132:12765.Argentina5104115:15526.Ukraine5005104:1620
2023-12-10 22:45:00
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