Ahead of their 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship semi-final against Norway later today, Netherlands’ goalkeeper Tess Wester spoke with IHF.info about feeling at home, having experience and team spirit.

 

IHF.info: Does it matter that you did not get a chance to play in Bietigheim-Bissingen the town which hosted Preliminary Group B of this championship and the place where you play your club handball? 

Tess Wester: It was already special for me to just play in Germany. If we would have played there it would have been strange as I wouldn’t have stayed at my home. It is such a familiar place, it would have been quite strange.

 

IHF.info: Germany is a special country for the players in your squad as nearly all your team currently play, or have played there. Does this make it easier or harder for you?

Tess Wester: At the beginning [of the tournament] it was quite strange because normally for a tournament you usually travel quite far, but this time we travelled in a bus from Holland to Germany and it was all quite close.

We are also really confident with the language too, which helps, but I think the further you get into the tournament, the more you get into the ‘bubble’, the more it feels like a World Championship.

IHF.info: How important is the work and the team spirit off the court for your squad?

Tess Wester: It’s really important and we have a team who’s quite good at that. But we’re also a team who is really good in giving each other space. So, if some people want to join a game [we are playing] or some people don’t want to join a game, everything is OK – you have to do what feels good for you. We’re quite good at doing that.

 

IHF.info: Two years ago, in Denmark, you went on an amazing journey and made the final of a World Championship for the first time, does this experience make a difference as you know what to expect?

Tess Wester: Of course, it helps. It helps to get through the nerves and the pressure, and the press attention too – it is not new anymore and we know what to expect as we have that experience. The semi-finals and finals are always something special and you cannot really prepare [everything] for them. 

It is a semi-final, but it feels like a final because we are meeting Norway – it’s going to be exciting.

 

IHF.info: Do you have a message to all of the Dutch fans at home watching your semi-final on television?

Tess Wester: To all our fans: turn on your TV and cheer for us, but, if there is a tiny chance to come here to Germany and watch and support us, then make it.