Co-hosts Germany are through to their first IHF Women’s World Championship semi-final since 2007 after beating South and Central America champions Brazil in the first quarter-final of the event, 30:23.

18 years ago, they made it to the last four of France 2007, eventually winning bronze after losing to Norway in the semi-final and then beating Romania after additional time in the 3/4 placement match.

They now move to Rotterdam in the Netherlands for two more games to get a medal, while Brazil return home, having improved on their 2023 ranking of ninth.

Quarter-final
Germany vs Brazil 30:23 (17:11)

A sold-out Westfalenhalle in Dortmund of 10,522 fans for the second Germany matchday running witnessed the home side impress in their final game before heading to Rotterdam ahead of their semi-final against either Netherlands or Hungary on Friday (12 December).

Brazil coach Cristiano Silva brought in line player Marcela Santos Arounian in the place of centre back Maria Brasil Pereira, while Markus Gaugisch named an unchanged German team from their 29:25 win against Spain last time out.

And the atmosphere was one to remember around the 100-year-old arena with the home fans coming in their droves, a variety of handball shirts representing a wide range of local and national club teams.

With the German national anthem starting off proceedings, a smiling and relaxed Brazil team sung their hearts for theirs – perhaps, the only ones in the arena.

A cracking opening from the home side, backed by cheers of ‘Deutschland, Deutschland’ made for a special atmosphere as Emily Vogel opened the scoring with the arena erupting in happiness. But when your opponents have Bruna De Paula in their side anything is possible and, within moments, she had engineered a chance, only for Larissa Araujo to step on the line when shooting the ball into the net.

1:0 quickly became 4:1 with Germany coach Markus Gaugisch switching play between four backcourt players and no-one on the line, to Lisa Antl coming in to mix things up, which she did, her opening goal a sublime little dink over Gabriela Moreschi in the South American’s goal.

Antl’s big smile following her goal was indicative of the energy and fluidity she and her side were playing with as the drummers behind Katharina Filter in the German goal banged even harder.

Every Germany attack aimed to tempt the defensive block of Giulia Guarieiro, Marcela Santoa, and Jhennifer Rosa, a tough nut to crack, but they did. At 6:3 ahead after nine minutes, Germany were shooting at an 86% success rate, with Brazil only functioning at 50%, Moreschi was having no luck, a couple from distance by exciting youngster and left-hander Viola Leuchter widening the gap further.

At 8:3 Silva took his first time out (12th minute) and it had immediate benefits as De Paula set up the dangerous and powerful Gabriela Bitolo to smash home.

But Brazil could not quite close the gap and Silva took the plunge and replaced Moreschi between the posts with Renata Arruda.

This was what Brazil needed and the effervescence of Germany on and off court dissipated quickly. Suddenly they were turning the ball over and missing shots, Xenia Smits missing an unguarded goal. 

For any German fan watching the two-minute suspension for Kelly Rosa (17-19th minute) was a much-needed reset and the three-goal gap continued and then widened as the Brazilians were unable to score for the next seven minutes (19-26th minute), stuck on eight goals

Finally Katharina Filter in the goalkeeper had warmed up, helping her side to a 17:11 half-time lead, the second period starting badly for Silva’s side as he was shown a yellow card early on in the half (34th minute) with his side now behind by eight (20:12).

But Germany could not put the game to bed as Arruda helped her side come back to within three (25:22) inside the last 10 minutes. A Brazilian turnover followed by an 11th save from Filter stopped the Brazilian momentum as a Jenny Behrend fast-break goal – assisted by Filter – restored a six-goal lead (28:22) going into the final five minutes and the cheer from the players and crowd, knew that it would not be a third, successive quarter-final world championship defeat.

hummel Player of the Match: Katharina Filter (Germany)