Tipped to be a dark horse for the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, Germany threw off the competition in style, with a big win over Serbia, 39:18.

GROUP F
Germany vs Serbia 39:18 (18:7)

A 9:1 run, which saw Serbia fail to score between the 11th and the 26th minutes, for 14 minutes and 23 seconds, was the pivotal moment of the match, when Germany took advantage, created easy chances on fast breaks and tilted the balance into their way.

Until that point of the match, both teams scored at free will, with Germany constantly dictating the pace, matched by Serbia’s efficient attack, which saw all their first six shots converted into goals.

But when Germany’s goalkeeper, Marie Kristin Weiss, started saving some shots, including four one-on-one shots, boasting five saves and a 40% saving efficiency after the first half, Serbia found literally no answer, as they could not match Germany’s output in the first 30 minutes.

With all but two of Germany’s outfield players scoring at least one goal in the first half, the gap was unassailable at the break, with Serbia converting only 38% of their shots, down 11 goals after 30 minutes, 18:7, as the side which replaced New Zealand for this competition simply did not have the firepower to match Germany.

Scoring four goals in the first 210 seconds of the second half was good news for Serbia, which were finding their footing, only for the next 13 minutes of the second half to bring only two more goals for them, as turnovers piled, with 15 balls turned over in the first 48 minutes.

Christopher Nordmeyer’s side took advantage and opened a 16-goal lead, 28:12, with 12 minutes to go, which prompted a team time-out from Serbia, but not even this could not derail Germany’s path to a clear win, 39:18, one which saw 13 of their 14 outfield players score and left wing Alina Gaubatz lead the way with five goals.

This was also Serbia’s largest loss in history at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, beating the previous record of 14 goals, set against another European side in 2014, when they conceded a 22:36 loss against Denmark. Germany also secured the second-largest win in the competition so far and the second one by 20 goals or more.

Germany have already made a step towards the main round, in what is touted to be the most balanced group at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, with France and Spain also fighting for the two qualifying places to the main round. In the next matchday, on Friday, Germany face Spain, while Serbia meet France.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Nieke Kühne (Germany)