The German women's handball team defeated Brazil 30:23 in the World Cup quarterfinals in Dortmund, advancing to the semifinals. Viola Leuchter and Katharina Filter delivered standout performances in the victory. Captain Antje Döll described it as a relief.
In the sold-out Westfalenhalle in Dortmund with 10,522 spectators, the German team under coach Markus Gaugisch laid the foundation for success early. By halftime, they led 17:11, thanks to nine different scorers. The Brazilians relied heavily on star player Bruna de Paula, who scored four goals and initiated nearly every attack. Without her due to a two-minute penalty, their offense lacked creativity.
Germany's defense, led by Xenia Smits who stole the ball from de Paula, kept the opponents at bay. Smits, now playing in Metz, initiated a counterattack with it. Viola Leuchter, 21, from the Danish club Odense, scored four dynamic goals from the right backcourt and impressed in attack.
After halftime, Brazil closed the gap to 20:24 and 22:25, but goalkeeper Katharina Filter made 14 saves out of 34 shots with a 41 percent rate and was named player of the match. Top scorer was captain Antje Döll with six goals, followed by Emily Vogel with five. Vogel's mother Andrea Bölk won Germany's only World Cup title in 1993.
"It's like a relief," Döll said on ZDF. This was Germany's seventh win in seven World Cup games, as they hadn't reached the semifinals since third place in 2007. The team, blending young talents like Leuchter, Nieke Kühne, and Nina Engel with veterans like Döll and Alina Grijseels, shows a strong mix.
Next, Germany faces the winner of Denmark vs. France in the Rotterdam semifinals.