The Women’s World Championship main round continued Tuesday with a pair of tightly contested matches in Dortmund and Rotterdam, showcasing the high level of competition as teams fight for positioning in their respective groups. Serbia and Faroe Islands battled to a 31-31 draw after a dramatic finish, while Poland defeated Argentina 28-25. Below are detailed recaps and standings from both Group II and Group III action.
GROUP II
A thrilling match in Dortmund saw Serbia and Faroe Islands locked in a tight contest early on, but Serbia began to pull ahead, leading 10-7 by the 10th minute. They extended that advantage to a three-goal lead, taking a 16-14 edge into halftime. The second half brought a spirited comeback from Faroe Islands, and the game was tied 29-29 with just five minutes remaining. A dramatic finish seemed inevitable, but Faroe Islands missed a crucial penalty in the 59th minute, a mistake Serbia nearly capitalized on. Jovana Skrobics put Serbia ahead with a goal, giving them a late lead, but Faroe Islands were awarded a penalty after a video review with just seven seconds left, converting to tie the game at 31-31. Dragana Cvijics, playing for Ferencváros, led the Serbian attack with six goals, while Jovana Jovovics of Debrecen added three, and Emilija Lazics of Székesfehérvár scored two. This result has significant implications for the group standings as the tournament progresses.
GROUP III
In Rotterdam, Argentina started strong against Poland, building a three-goal lead within the first six minutes. Poland battled back, repeatedly threatening to level the score, but Argentina held on to a 15-14 advantage at the break. The second half saw Poland equalize, and then take the lead, moving two goals ahead by the 43rd minute. They ultimately controlled the closing stages, extending their lead to four goals in the final two minutes. Despite Argentina’s efforts, Poland secured a 28-25 victory. Adrianna Placzek, who plays for Debrecen, had an impressive performance in goal for Poland, posting a 45% save percentage. The win solidifies Poland’s position in the group and boosts their chances of advancing.
HANDBALL
WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, MAIN ROUND
ROUND 2
GROUP II (DORTMUND)
Serbia–Faroe Islands 31–31 (16–14)
Top Scorers: Krpez-Slezak, Skorivics 8 goals each, Cvijics 6 goals, vs. Mittún 10 goals, Brandenborg 6 goals
18:00: Montenegro–Germany
20:30: Iceland–Spain
| 1. Germany | 3 | 3 | – | – | 99–71 | +28 | 6 |
| 2. Serbia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 109–117 | –8 | 5 |
| 3. Montenegro | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 94–85 | +9 | 4 |
| 4. Faroe Islands | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 111–124 | –13 | 3 |
| 5. Spain | 3 | 1 | – | 2 | 85–84 | +1 | 2 |
| 6. Iceland | 3 | – | – | 3 | 78–95 | –17 | 0 |
GROUP III (ROTTERDAM)
Argentina–Poland 25–28 (15–14)
Top Scorers: Karsten 9 goals, Gavilan 5 goals, vs. Balsam 6 goals, Michalak, Kochaniak 5 goals each
18:00: France–Austria
20:30: Netherlands–Tunisia (TV: M4 Sport)
| 1. France | 2 | 2 | – | – | 85–46 | +39 | 4 |
| 2. Netherlands | 2 | 2 | – | – | 66–47 | +19 | 4 |
| 3. Poland | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 85–93 | –8 | 4 |
| 4. Austria | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | 49–57 | –8 | 2 |
| 5. Argentina | 3 | – | – | 3 | 73–87 | –14 | 0 |
| 6. Tunisia | 2 | – | – | 2 | 44–72 | –28 | 0 |
