Dortmund welcomed the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship as the all-European main round, Group II, got underway at the Westfalenhalle.

The opening match saw Spain take on Serbia, with both bringing just two points each into this second phase of competition. After a tight opening quarter, Spain capitalised on numerous mistakes from their opponents, to lead clearly, but an inspired Serbia fought back late on to add another two points to their account in a dramatic finale.

Main Round, Group II
Spain vs Serbia 29:31 (19:17)

Former assistant to current Spain coach Ambros Martin, Jose Ignacio Prades Pons, got one over on his former boss as his Serbian side took a gigantic step towards the main round, with this two-goal win over the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship silver medallists.

Ahead of this game, Serbia were with a starting left winger with Sanja Radosavljevic out due to a wrist injury, with Tamara Kocic taking on responsibilities after Aleksandra Stamenić dropped out due to illness. Teodora Velickovic was added to Pons’ squad in place of Tamara Mandić.

Just last week, Spain defeated Serbia 29:27 in a warm-up tournament and it looked to be going that way again, the Serbians their own worse enemy, turning over the ball 10 times in the first 30 minutes, which had seen Spain take a two-goal lead (19:17) into the pause.

Serbia led briefly in the first 10 minutes, but found themselves six down with 40 minutes on the clock and with little chance of opening their main round campaign with a victory. Pons took an early time out (35th minute) but it did little to stop their demise as they added another five turnovers in the first nine minutes of the second period.

Gradually, they worked their way back though Pons installing a focus and mentality of concentration in the final quarter, led by goalkeeper Jovana Risovic, who ended on 11 saves (50%), helping her team to restrict their turnovers (just two in the final 20 minutes) and breed confidence in attack.

Eventually, they went into the lead again in the 55th minute through Dragana Cvijic from distance, an incredible turnaround of seven goals in 15 minutes.

A direct red card for the influential Jovana Skrobic in the 57th minute, after video replay had shown her to impinge Anne Erauskin, did not dampen the Serbian’s rampant mood as they went ahead in that period, (30:29) thanks to Velickovic. Risovic then took over, saving shots from Elba Alvarez Torrado and then Danila Patricia So Delgado-Pinto in 90 seconds to allow Aleksandra Vukajlović to sink home from the line and seal the deal with her side two ahead.

Even before the final buzzer, Cvijic pointed towards the small group of Serbian supporters in amongst the arena and gestured towards her head, denoting the word ‘mentality’ with a big smile on her face before.

This win has done wonders for that Serbian mentality, but Pons and his side will want it a bit more relaxed on Thursday (4 December) when they take on Faroe Islands with Spain facing Iceland and trying to keep their world championship campaign alive.

hummel Player of the Match: Danila Patricia So Delgado-Pinto (Spain)