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Germany's Emily Bölk at the goal
Photo: IMAGO/Patrick Suephke / IMAGO/Lobeca
Germany's women's handball team started the European Championship with a resounding victory.
The DHB selection won their first preliminary round game in Group D against Poland 25:23 (11:12) on Saturday evening.
The best throwers for the team of national coach Markus Gaugisch in front of 400 spectators in Podgorica were the two captains Alina Grijseels with eight goals and Emily Bölk (6).
Before that, Montenegro had caught the eye with an unexpectedly clear 30:23 victory over Spain, fourth in the World Cup.
Preparations for the tournament were overshadowed by the affair surrounding long-time Bundesliga coach André Fuhr.
Fuhr, who in the meantime also looked after the national team, is accused of abuse of power and psychological terror.
The role of the current coach of the DHB women, Markus Gaugisch, also came into focus.
In the opening game against the Poles, the German team was very nervous.
With many slight ball losses, the opponent was repeatedly invited to quick counterattacks.
In addition, too many chances, including two seven meters, were missed.
The result: five minutes before the break, the DHB selection was four goals behind at 7:11.
Only in the final phase of the first half did Gaugisch's team act a little more calmly and came back within a goal.
After the change, the German team improved and steered the game with an intermediate sprint to 16:13 (38 th ) for a short time on the hoped-for path.
The resistance of the Poles was by no means broken.
In the middle of the second half everything was open again at 17:17 because the German team made too many mistakes again.
In the final phase, the pendulum then swung in favor of the DHB selection.
Decisive: A seven-meter save by reserve goalkeeper Isabell Roch at a score of 23:24 two minutes before the end.
Other opponents Montenegro and Spain
Other preliminary round opponents in the selection of the German Handball Association are now co-hosts Montenegro on Monday (6 p.m.) and Spain, fourth in the World Cup, on Wednesday (8.30 p.m. / Stream: Sportdeutschland.TV).
mfu/sid/dpa
