Germany Dominate Serbia to Secure Group C Victory and Main Round Berth
Stuttgart, Germany – Co-hosts Germany continued their remarkable run at the tournament, securing a decisive 31:20 victory over Serbia in Stuttgart on Tuesday and finishing atop Group C. This marks Germany’s third consecutive win, propelling them into the main round with four points, while Serbia will advance with two.
Having already clinched a main round berth earlier in the week, Germany demonstrated their dominance from the opening whistle. Serbia’s Jovana Skrobić opened the scoring, but germany quickly responded with a strong defensive showing and effective counterattacks, building a 6:2 lead within the first nine minutes. This early surge prompted a time-out from Serbian coach José Ignacio Prades.
Despite the tactical pause, Serbia struggled to find their rhythm, facing difficulties in both attack and defense. Disciplinary issues further hampered their efforts,with Dragana Cvijić receiving two two-minute suspensions and Skrobić being shown a direct red card. By the 22nd minute, Germany had extended their advantage to double digits, leading 16:6.
Antje Döll proved especially impactful for Germany in the first half, contributing seven goals before the interval. Serbia managed a late rally, fueled by a 4:1 run with goals from Cvijić, but Germany maintained a comfortable 17:10 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Germany quickly reassert control with a 3:0 run. While Prades called another time-out, and Katarina Krpež Šlezak and Jovana Jovović managed to find the net for Serbia, the German lead remained substantial, reaching 21:13.
german coach Markus Gaugisch utilized the opportunity to rest key players,including Döll for a portion of the half. However, Döll returned to the court in the 47th minute, adding an eighth goal to her tally after initially missing a 7-meter shot but capitalizing on the rebound. A total of thirteen German players contributed to the scoresheet,showcasing the team’s depth and securing an 11-goal victory.
hummel Player of the Match: Antje Döll (Germany)
Germany will now travel to Dortmund to begin the main round, carrying significant momentum and a clear position as tournament favorites. Serbia will look to build on their two points as they also progress to the next stage.
