After an action-packed and historic quarter-final morning in Pingtan, China at the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships, IHF.info speaks to the winning players and coaches involved ahead of their semi-finals later on Saturday (22 June).

Women’s Competition

Semi-Final 1: Denmark vs Germany

Freja Hammer Fagerberg (DEN) – player

On her save towards the end of the second set against Croatia in their quarter-final win when her side were 16:14 ahead:
“They would have turned it around [if I had not saved it]. I kind of face-planted on my stomach and all my air went out. I then had to take one defence out so my amazing teammate who's also on the goal, Mathilde (Bisgaard Johansen) and she took one for me and we switch again. Those situations are definitely what we train for what we're here for.

“The sport is so extraordinary. It's extraordinary to look at. It's just even more extraordinary to play because you can do everything because you land in the sand. It's so fun because you can go all out, you can go 110%.”

On playing Germany in the semi-final:
"It's going to be a very tough game for both of us. We took them in middle round (Denmark won 2-0 in the main round). We had really, really great tactics. Our trainers have done the job very, very well in this tournament. I would guess they (Germany) would find a counter on our tactics, but we're definitely going to find a counter on their counter."

On their plans for China 2024:
“We’re here to go all the way.”

Alexander Novakovic (GER) – coach

On Germany coming back after losing the first set against Spain in their quarter-final to win the shoot-out and book a semi-final spot:
“It’s absolutely amazing. An amazing comeback. I’ve never seen ever something like that before. With all the circumstances in front of the tournament – we had only three days preparation and no camp together, we had some injuries, 3-6 months’ injuries and two weeks before the world championships players came back, important players. They come back inside the tournament to start really on a low level and then come step-by-step.

“Then, to make a really good game with an amazing comeback in the quarter-finals is fantastic. I'm so proud of this team. I was crying after the quarter-finals. Normally I cry when we have a medal or something like that but before with all the circumstances. This is an important victory for us. We are totally happy.”

On facing Denmark in the semi-finals:
“We played against Denmark in the main round and each team knows each other well. They were really good. In that game, we had Denmark. We lost our goalkeeper in the second half so if this could not happen, then I think it would be a really close one. I expect a really, really close semi-final against our friends from Denmark.”

Semi-Final 2: Argentina vs Netherlands

Peter Portengen (NED) – coach

On making the semi-finals:
“We are happy that we got this far and we play Argentina now so we go back to the hotel as soon as possible and try to watch their game. We didn't see a lot of Argentina until now. They are strong, they didn't lose any matches but I think we are ready.

“We play very good and we are growing in the tournament. In Beach Handball you see in all the games, everything can happen. You can be the best team but you can lose anyway. So, let's see how it goes.”

Leticia Brunati (ARG) – coach

On beating Brazil:
“Today we stayed strong. After losing the first set, it was very important because it's difficult to win the second after the first set.”

On playing Netherlands in the semi-final:
“It will be a very, very tough match, they play very well. They are very strong in attack. Our defence has to be the best to win.”

On the historic victory which means her side will finish in their highest-ever ranking:
“Everybody is very, very excited and very happy for us. We work a lot for these results. We are happy like this.”

Men’s Competition

Semi-Final 1: Croatia vs Portugal

Filip Dominik Hancic (CRO) – player

On beating European Champions Hungary in the quarter-final to reach the semi-finals:
“I cannot describe my feelings right now. Maybe I could in half an hour or something. I'm really, really proud and happy because every time, when I'm on a big stage with the national team, there is always a quarter-final game [coming after] we have won every game in preliminary round and main round and then we lose.

"Now, it was almost the same, but luckily, I saved one and they missed one. We've won now, it's much easier. We are fighting for a medal. We have two games for a medal and I feel 20 kilos lighter.”

On his other quarter-final losses:
“Norway, I think, last year in Portugal, European Championship, the quarter-final against Denmark at the last European Games. I’m dreaming about them still. I don't know why I have so much pressure in quarter-finals, always. I'm trying everything to put the pressure down because I'm playing good the whole main round, the whole preliminary round and then when I came to this point.

“I know quarter-finals depend a lot on goalkeepers and then I feel so much pressure and I don't know how should I handle it. But now I know for next time. I hope the next time it will always be us wining the quarter-finals.”

On Hungary losing the quarter-final shoot-out after mishandling the ball:
“I know, unfortunately, how it is. But they're really good. They play really well, really good since 2021. We knew that it was going to be just one or two goals deciding it and luckily it was on our side. We are happy to play the semi-final now against Portugal and luckily, we won the first game here against Portugal (main round).”

Tomas Van-Zeller (POR) – player:

On reaching their first-ever world championship semi-final:
“It's amazing. We said our mantra from the beginning was our flag and we played with the shirts in the colours of Portugal. Red, which means courage. Green, which means hope and, in our hearts, we have joy to play this game and we took it to the field. And we got the win. We got it done.

On beating the record-winners of the championship, Brazil, in their quarter-final:
“We knew we had to fight all from the start. They have an amazing offence as the eight world titles they have. We prepare really good and our defence is unbelievable. We have an amazing goalkeeper. We have three to four guys that are amazing in defence and when we believe in each other, everything is possible.”

On what it means to make a semi-final:
“Sacrifice. Sacrifice, above all. When a lot of things could go wrong and we could fall apart, we're still giving even more together. With sacrifice, we can achieve greatness.”

On if they can beat Croatia in their semi-final:
“That is the plan for the coach. I cannot disclose as you can imagine (laughs).”

On the message to fans back in Portugal:
“It's the world. It's for the people who believe. If you don't believe, you cannot conquer anything. So, believe that you will achieve greatness.”

Semi-Final 1: Denmark vs Germany

Marten Franke (GER) – coach (via handball.net)

On beating Spain in the quarter-final:
“Spain had a very variable attacking game and a strong rate. Reaching the world championship semi-finals is the greatest success for German men's Beach Handball. We have already achieved great things.

“We would ideally like to take that step against Denmark and make it to the final.”

Martin Andersen (DEN) - player

On beating Argentina in the quarter-finals, the first time the South Americans have reached that stage:
“First of all, a big shout out to Argentina. We've been watching a lot of videos on them. I've been seeing a lot of games and we had all respect for them. Some of their matches they played a little bit physical so we prepared ourselves for that. We, for once, actually controlled our feelings a lot in this game.”

On if Denmark had worked on controlling their feelings:
“We spoke about it because Argentina are a very ‘emotional’ team and we have seen on videos that sometimes they do some little tricks. We had to put the focus on our own game and see what could we do about it and then let the referees do the game. I want to give also a big shout out to the German referees and the delegates because they control the games.

On facing Germany in the semi-final:
“It's all about going through from the quarter-finals because now we're in the semi-final and now three out of four teams can medal so it's a huge thing for Danish Beach Handball. I'm getting older, but I never get tired of winning and getting into the top four.

“Germany has been doing very, very well the last couple of years and especially in the European Championship. We were in a training camp with them before and we played them in the semi-finals.

“We will prepare ourselves very, very well again. We will go directly back to the hotel and it's going to be a close game for sure. I can promise that.

“The Beach Handball elite is getting so narrow at the top level, so whoever you're going to play against it's going to be difficult. I expect a game where there's two teams that know each other very well and it's going to come down to the small details.”