Impressive start for Sweden and Montenegro
Following the first match day on Sunday in Hungary, the EHF EURO 2014 action moved to Croatia for the Group C and Group D matches in Varazdin, respectively Osijek.
The Croatian co-hosts of the tournament did not enter with a right foot as they were defeated by impressive Sweden 28:30. Isabelle Gulden scored seven goals as Sweden showed a focused 60-minute performance and beat Croatia 30:28. The hosts rallied from behind several times in the match, but were unable to sustain the last Swedish run.
Earlier in Varazdin, the spectacular goalkeeping show of Clara Woltering in the Germany's goal was eclipsed by a 26:29 defeat with the Netherlands.
The Dutch team survived ten minutes without goals and even a slow finish to eventually beat Germany in style with Estavana Polman as their best scorer with seven goals.
In Osijek, France struggle to overcome the underdogs in Group D with a 21:18 win in a low-scoring encounter. The French had a harder fight than expected in their first outing at the Women's EHF EURO 2014, as a determined Slovakia showed mental strength to keep the French 21:18 win in question until the dying minutes of the match.
Another group favourite Montenegro was far more convincing. The defending champions beat Serbia in the clash of two teams from former Yugoslavia "only“ 21:18, but they never really let the control of the match slip from their hands.
Find more information about the Women's EHF EURO 2014 on the official website
TEXT: EHF / br
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