Dutch triumph over handball players in World Cup preliminary contest
In a disappointing start to their international season, Germany's women's handball team faced a 31:35 loss against the sixth-placed Netherlands in Eindhoven. The game, played in front of 2,000 spectators, marked the first test match of the World Cup year for the hosts. The first half was a challenging one for the German team, with issues in both attack and defense. The Dutch team capitalised on these weaknesses, securing an early 7:3 lead. The error rate in attack remained high throughout the first half, and the defense was rarely effective. Neither goalkeeper made a significant impact. At the break, national team manager Anja Althaus criticised the team's performance, urging them to improve. In response, the German team showed signs of improvement after the break. Sarah Wachter played better in goal, and the defense stood much stronger. However, despite this recovery, the hoped-for turnaround did not happen. The Dutch team was relentless, punishing every mistake made by the German team. Nina Engel was the top scorer for the German team with eight goals, but it was not enough to secure a victory. The game against the Netherlands revealed some areas for improvement for the German team. They will have an opportunity to rectify these issues when they face the Dutch team again on Sunday in Krefeld. This will be the second of two international games between the two World Cup hosts. Markus Gaugisch, the coach of the German women's handball team, called an early timeout, speaking intensively to his players. The loss serves as a reminder for the team to focus on their game and work towards stronger performances in the upcoming matches.
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