After recent victories with their national teams in the European Championship qualifiers, several members of the Black & Yellow handball squad women again notched up victories with their countries over the international break. So far, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain have managed to get points on the board.
The Germany team did not play their second game in Tel Aviv against Israel due to the situation in the country, but still retain the top spot in Group 2, as Ukraine won 25-20 against Slovakia.
Spain, led by BVB playmaker Carmen Campos, are also in first place in their group after two games played. The “Guerreras” followed up their resounding victory against Lithuania with a comfortable 38-18 win in Azerbaijan. The biggest challenge awaits them in the two clashes with their closest rivals, North Macedonia. However, these are not scheduled until the end of February and the beginning of March 2024.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, delivered a fine performance in Finland. Zoë Sprengers contributed three goals in four attempts as the Dutch powered to a 31-13 win away in Northern Europe. Tess Lieder, who shares the goalkeeper position with two former Black & Yellows, Yara ten Holte and Rinka Duijndam, made three saves and notched up a 43% save success rate. As a result, the 2019 world champions lead the table in Group 3 ahead of the Czech Republic. Harma van Kreij did not play.
In the next few days, the entire BVB squad will reunite to prepare for a packed autumn schedule. Not only in the Bundesliga, but also in the last qualification round for the group stages of the European League. After the three-game run against TuS Metzingen, away to Bayer Leverkusen and at home to Thüringer HC, Dunarea Braila from Romania will be the guests in Dortmund, more precisely in the Helmut-Körnig-Halle.
Before the return fixture on 19 November, there is also the fixture against Sport-Union Neckarsulm, which will take place in Wellinghofen, as will the other home matches before the World Cup break from the end of November.