“My instinct was to open the door and let's run. Get the heart rate monitors!”

Ashley Davis27/11/2025

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Article by Ionuţ Iordache, Adrian Jitea – Published on Thursday, 27 November 2025, 21:44 / Updated on Thursday, 27 November 2025 21:47

Romania clearly defeated Croatia, score 33-24in the first match of group A at the Women's Handball World Championship. The selector Ovidiu Mihăilă drew the conclusions and prefaced the next match, the one against Japan.

Reporter Adrian Jitea and photojournalist Ionuț Iordache are in Rotterdam with the Romanian national team and transmit all the information and images that matter

Romania arrived late for the match against Croatia, due to a traffic jam. The “tricolors” warmed up hard, but they ended it without great emotions. Ovidiu Mihăilă allowed himself to joke about the moment.

“My instinct was to open the door and go for a run. I had put on their heart rate monitors, I said let's go for a run. Mr. Vali Tomescu, who is in charge of these details, told us that we will arrive in good time. There was a moment when I panicked, I questioned whether we would make it to the match or not. That's why maybe the beginning of the game was somewhat unbalanced”, joked Mihăilă.

VIDEOS. Ovidiu Mihăilă, after the victory against Croatia

“I was convinced there were and there were emotions. We tried to control them with the staff and those around the girls. Their individual value allowed them to approach this match with confidence and take it to a success. It was a bit of a game to keep them balanced.

They motivated each other, they gave each other confidence, they finished the game the way we wanted. I am very proud of them! I told them today too, I want to enjoy everything they achieve here. It's their story! We just support them with what they need.

It is not easy to connect in such a short time with what the national team means. I repeat, it's only the merit of the girls. We managed to keep the group unity and performance line that we found here.

Paradoxically, we kept discussing the defense aspect. I followed the same line, I was convinced that they would raise their level due to the motivation that exists. Then, we went to the average goals scored in the last period. We have to be balanced and be satisfied with what we have achieved. You have to give them confidence, they have the quality to manage every game”, said the Romanian coach.

Ovidiu Mihăilă, optimistic before the duel with Japan

For the tricolor national team, the confrontation with Japan follows, on Saturday, from 19:00, liveTEXT on GSP.ro.

I told them, adaptability is very important in a World Championship. It is important to keep our personality, we will find the solutions to face Japan. Even though they have had good results lately, they beat Angola. It's hard to read, we have to raise the physical level. The important thing is that I'm done with all the healthy girls today. The game against Japan is the continuation of work, a chance to hope for what many do not believe about this team at the World Cup

– Ovidiu Mihăila

Romania's squad for the World Championship:

Goalkeepers: Iulia Dumanska (Minaur), Bianca Curmentă (Corona Brașov), Elena Șerban (Danurea Brăila)
Far right: Sonia Seraficeanu (Gloria Bistrița), Mihaela Mihai (CSM Bucharest)
Inter right: Alicia Gogîrla (SCM Craiova)
Coordinators: Rebeca Necula (Rm. Vâlcea), Alisia Boiciuc (Corona Brașov), Andreea Popa (Brăila Danube), Elena Roșu (Brăila Danube), Cristina Laslo (Gloria Bistrița)
Pivots: Lorena Ostase (Gloria Bistrita), Sonia Vasiliu (Slatina), Asma Elghaoui (Rm. Vâlcea)
Left Integers: Sorina Grozav (Corona Brașov), Maryia Skrobic (Rapid)
Far left: Gabriela Dumitrascu (Corona Brașov), Eva Kerekes (Gloria Bistrița)