The Czech Republic made it two wins from two as they came from behind to overturn a three-goal first half deficit to win by four (29:25) in the opening day of matchday two at the EgeTrans Arena. Norway also are on maximum points as they were able to spread the workload throughout their squad of 16 in a 15-goal victory against South American side Argentina. Sweden opened their Germany 2017 account with a hard-fought 25:22 defeat of Hungary.

GROUP B

Poland vs Czech Republic 25:29 (15:12)

In the opening match of the second round of games in Group B Jan Basny’s Czech side mounted an impressive comeback in the second half after ending the first period three down (15:12). It could have been a bigger win for the Czech team as Polish goalkeeper Adriana Placzek again impressed, ending the first half with a 43% save rate.

“We managed to keep our plan for all 60 minutes today,” said a delighted Basny after the match. “I think nobody in our team thought it would be possible we could win in the first 40 minutes or so, but they proved to me their physical and mental strength [in the end].”

Poland had prompted Basny to take his first time out after just 11 minutes with his side 6:2 down and it worked, as over the next eight minutes they clawed their way back to 7:9, prompting Leszek Krowicki to take a time out for Poland, allowing his side to keep a half-time lead (15:12).

After a disastrous first 15 minutes of the second period, where Basny’s team brought the game level (19:19), worse was to come for the Polish side. “We failed really as a whole - especially in the last 15 minutes, we weren’t very good at all,” said Krowicki about the period where their opponents outscored them 10:6 to take a 29:25 victory, a win sealed when player of the match Iveta Luzumova sunk home full-length into an empty net to make it 28:25 after Poland, playing with an extra attacker, had hoped to make it 27:26 as the game entered the final minute.

“In the last 15 minutes we didn’t play our game and adjusted to the style of play of our rivals,” said Poland’s Daria Zawistowska. “We made mistakes and the Czech team took advantage of them.”

“We proved our mental strength and we believed in ourselves,” said Iveta Luzumova. “I wasn’t nervous [when I scored to make it 28:25] - I knew that we would win this game in the end. Sometimes at my club I score like this, I train it, I was calm, I said to myself be calm and throw inside, the goalkeeper’s not there and I did it.”

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Iveta LUZUMOVA (CZE)

Hungary vs Sweden 22:25 (11:11)

“This was a battle – a real fight,” said Hungary coach Kim Rasmussen after his side lost their second game in a row at Germany 2017, to remain without any points. Even with the brief introduction of the returning Louise Sand for Sweden, both sides remained deadlocked throughout the first half as neither team could pull away (11:11) from each other by the break.

Rasmussen had employed a 5-1 defence early on to nullify the threat of Sweden’s Bella Gullden but as the second half started Sweden finally found a way around the Hungarian defence as two doubles from Gullden and Jamina Roberts completed a 4:0 run which was punctuated by a Rasmussen time out. Sweden had now gone up by three at 15:12, a margin they would keep until the end as they put themselves right back into contention in the tough group.

“Everybody knew how important this game was as getting two points would have put us in with all the other teams,” said Rasmussen. “Sweden won the battle of the fast-breaks and now we know what we have to do for the rest of the tournament.”

Sweden coach Henrik Signell agreed with Rasmussen that it was tough fight, but was pleased that his team had corrected their mistakes made against Poland in their opener.

“Our defence was a big difference today, compared to our match yesterday,” he said. “It was a battle today, and I am glad we won it this time.”

“We played a better defence and had better speed today and kept going the whole game,” said Sweden’s Anna Lagerquist. “It was a tough and even game, but we never gave up.” These thoughts were echoed by her teammate, Daniela Gustin. “We didn’t play so good yesterday,” she said, “but we came to the game today with more energy and attitude – this was the big change for us.”

Hungarian goalkeeper Blanka Biro was disappointed with the result and performance from her side but is already looking forward to their next match after the rest day tomorrow. “These two points were very valuable, but this time, unfortunately, they went to Sweden and not us,” she said. “But we have to push forward and fight for the last three matches in the group phase.”

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Johanna BUNDSEN (SWE)

Argentina vs Norway 21:36 (13:18)

Norway coach Thorir Hergeirsson started this game with Marit Jacobsen, Kari Brattset, Sanna Solberg and Kari Grimsbo along with captain Stine Oftedal, Veronica Kristansen and Stine Skogrand as he rotated his side fresh from their dominating victory against Hungary in their opener yesterday.

However, an unsettled Norway eventually welcomed Nora Mork, Heidi Loke and Camilla Herrem on to the court after 20 minutes as Hergeirsson looked to steady the Norwegian ship, which included world championship debutant Emilie Christiansen.

Despite the injection of experience and skill Argentina kept the current title holders to within five at the break (18:13), but by the time Katrine Lunde had come on in the second half, the result was never in doubt, as the Europeans went into their first double-digit lead in the 35th minute, scoring five unanswered goals at the beginning of the second period as Hergeirsson ended the match without taking any of his time outs.

“Norway are the greatest team and they played well today,” said Argentina coach Eduardo Peruchena. “We had a great first 10 minutes and started well – our goal for the team was to score more than 20 goals.”

“They fought well, they are developing and played very well in the first half,” said Thorir Hergeirsson. “The second half we played better – we wanted to keep them to 20 goals, but they scored 21 goals. We wanted to stop them, but they played really well.”

“We believe in our team and we believe in our goals [we have set for our next games],” said Argentina centre back Victoria Crivelli.

Norway’s Sanna Solberg knew her side had been in a test, but was pleased that her side showed their true level in the end. “Argentina gave us a good match in the first half,” she said, “but when we started to play well in defence we showed we could play good handball.”

Player of the Match presented by adidas: Heidi LOKE (NOR)