Norway remain the only team with a 100% record in Bietigheim-Bissingen after their convincing 35:20 win over Poland in the last of the third match day of Group B games, despite missing two influential players due to illness. Sweden put an end to the Czech unbeaten run, coming from behind to win their second game in a row, while in the early game, Hungary easily beat Argentina 33:15.

 

GROUP B

 

Hungary vs Argentina 33:15 (18:7)

 

The South Americans managed to keep the Hungarians at bay until the 10th minute, but when Anna Kovacs struck to make it 4:3 to Kim Rasmussen’s Hungary side, the European team led for the remainder of the match.

 

The Hungarians had gone into the game without any points but knew that after facing Norway and Sweden in their opening pair of matches, Argentina would prove to be an easier task. Despite the win, Kinga Janurik still had to perform in the Hungarian goal and her crucial part in the game was recognised with a best player of the match award.

 

“We aim to score 20 goals in every match here at Germany 2017,” said Argentina coach Eduardo Peruchena after the game, “but their goalkeeper (Kinga Janurik) prevented us from doing this today.”

 

“They made it very us for difficult, especially in the defence where we had to really focus. It’s good to be finally on the board with two points,” said Rasmussen. “It was a good day at the office.”

 

“We have a very good start to the match, but we couldn’t continue through to the end,” said Argentina’s Florencia Ponce de Leon. “We have lost all of our matches, but we have to look forward and improve every match – every match is a learning process for us as we aim to get better.”

 

“Our first two games we have been disappointing,” said Hungary’s left back Klara Szekeres. “I hope now we are going in a good way and can be really good in our remaining games.”

 

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Kinga JANURIK (HUN)

 

Sweden vs Czech Republic 36:32 (16:18)

 

Sweden made it two from two to push themselves just behind Norway in the group and put one foot in the eighth-finals after an impressive come-from-behind victory against Czech Republic, who allowed a two-goal half-time lead (18:16) to evaporate within moments of the second period starting.

 

The Swedes had a disastrous opening quarter as they conceded five in a row unanswered to find themselves 12:7 down after 17 minutes, but they managed to claw it back and then overtake their opponents finally in the 37th minute (22:21) and never looked back, opening a five-goal lead (32:27) as late as the 53rd minute before a late rally from Jan Basny’s Czech team.

 

“We were good in offence with 36 goals but not so good in defence as we conceded 32,” said Sweden coach Henrik Signell after the victory. “Czech Republic have made a big step forward and it was a big fight throughout the whole match against them.”

  

“Our first half was good, but the second half was not so good,” said Czech coach Jan Basny. “We let Sweden back into the match as they attacked us more than in the first.”  

 

“I agree with my coach,” said Czech Republic’s Michaela Hrbkova. “Our start was good in defence and offence, but I don't know what happened in the second half. I'm very sad and hope we will win one of the other games.”

 

Sweden’s pivot Ulrika Toft Hansen was happy with the result, if not the performance. “I’m very satisfied with these two points,” said the 1,77m player. “In the first half we started too slow in defence, but in the second we played good together and more as a team.”

 

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Olivia MELLEGARD (SWE)

 

Norway vs Poland 35:20 (18:11)

 

Missing 2011’s IHF World Handball Player of the Year Heidi Loke and left back Emilie Arntzen to food poisoning before the match, Norway coach Thorir Hergeirsson could only name 14 players ahead of his sides’ clash with Poland. 

 

But unlike their previous match against Argentina where he named a near fully-rotated starting seven, Hergeirsson – maybe weary of the threat Poland could pose – started with his near-strongest possible starting seven with Katrine Lunde, Stine Skogrand, Nora Mork, Stine Oftedal, Veronica Kristiansen and Camila Herrem making the court, in addition to Kari Brattset.

 

With this starting line-up Norway showed no mercy to Poland, taking an 18:11 half-time lead, extended it to 10 goals for the first time in the 41st minute (25:15) and then 13 a few minutes later following a 4:0 run (29:16) after Poland had responded briefly. Hergeirsson had taken time to applaud Katarzyna Janiszewska’s strike early in the first half for Poland after the right wing had fooled the experienced Norwegian defence, but on this form, Norway will be the team receiving applause, all the way through to the final weekend of Germany 2017.

 

“We went in to the game hoping, perhaps, we could have a good game today,” said Polish coach Leszek Krowicki after the match, “but this Norway team is very difficult to beat, and we had too few possibilities [to do that] today.”

 

“Our defence was not as dynamic as it could be today,” said Norway coach Thorir Hergeirsson. “Our central line was very good today and I’m pleased for the team.”

 

“We prepared really hard for this match because we know how strong this team is,” said Poland’s King Achruk. “It’s a painful lesson for us but I think we can take some good element from this game – there are not a lot of them, but will find some.”

 

“We controlled the whole game today and had really good goalkeepers today,” said Norway’s Helen Fauske. 

 

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Veronica KRISTIANSEN (NOR)