Germany, Norway advance to World Championship semifinals

Co-host Germany and Olympic and European champion Norway have qualified for the semifinals of the Women’s Handball World Championship.

The German team won 30:23 (17:11) against Pan-American champion Brazil in Dortmund. The hosts started strong, taking a 4:1 lead, then extending the gap to 8:3 and maintaining a 4–5 goal advantage until halftime. Early in the second half, Germany pulled ahead 19:11 and controlled the match until the end. Antje Döll stood out with 6 goals in the victory, CE Report quotes BTA.

Germany, which is aiming for its second world title after its debut win in 1993, awaits the winner of the match between defending champion France and European runner-up Denmark in Rotterdam.

Norway defeated Montenegro 32:23 (19:11), also in Dortmund. The Scandinavians opened with a 4:0 run and gradually expanded their lead, which reached 16:7 just before halftime. Early in the second half, the Olympic champions made the gap double-digit at 25:13, effectively removing any suspense. Henny Reistad scored 8 goals in the win.

Norway will face in the semifinals the winner of tonight’s match in Rotterdam between 2019 world champion Netherlands and Hungary.