A ’weird’ handball world, brilliant home crowd athmosphere and world class players aplenty – here are Fredrik Hasselgrens 3 takes after Netherlands beat France 26–23 (14–13)
A ’weird’ handball world – right from the start
A French timeout in the fifth minute indicated a very special match development. The team known for a solid defense got off to a really bad start, caused by own mistakes and the fact that Netherlands was prepared with a very tight setup in front of their own goal. The digits, 2–7 after ten minutes showed some serious gaps in the French master plan. Which then again called for action and the favourite sport as we know provided new twists and turns.
Brilliant home crowd athmosphere
A near 30 year long wait for championship action on home ground definitely was a bit too long for a nation that has established general medal hope for the last decade. In the tight, intense surroundings of the Rotterdam arena the orange supporters rule and the dutch squad has found a connection which not all hugely supported host countries do. The atmosphere in the second half was brilliant as Netherlands attacked with rapid speed and could counter all attempts from France.
Six games – six wins, up to three more match nights remain as Netherlands hope to wake the medal dream at the perfect occasion.
World class players aplenty
Netherlands won fair and square but the game wouldn’t have been half as fun as a neutral observer if France hadn’t brought some capacity players for the first half comeback.
Hatadou Sako, when she was available and not substituted to allow for 7 v 6, was one solid reason for the near equaliser close to half-time with 48 percent saves. Tamara Horacek, who powered through on numerous occasions (six goals in the first half) was another.
In the second half Netherlands presented a lot of individual and team factors for a convincing win – among them Yara Ten Holte between the posts, the very rapid runs of Bo Van Wetering and the capacity to finish in a cool fashion while France tried their utmost to bounce back once more.