“This is the start of the World Championship”

• 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 made a strong debut in group A of the Women's Handball World Championship, 33-24 triumph over Croatia. Center Andreea Popa confirmed the good form at the club, scored 3 goals, and at the end joked about the fact that the coach arrived late at Rotterdam Ahoy.

Andreea Popa, after her successful debut at the Women's Handball World Championship

“It was a rather difficult start, considering that we had some technical problems. We arrived at the gym 20 minutes before the start of the match. We mobilized, I'm glad we started right. I hope it will be the same in the future. It was an extra motivation, we wanted to win this match easily. It ended the way we wanted,” said Andreea Popa, according to HandbalMania.

The “tricolor” coordinator revealed what the selector sent them at halftime, when the difference was one goal, and admitted that there are still aspects to adjust in the game.

He told us to stay calm, not to rush, to have as aggressive a defense as possible and it showed. I stepped forward and won.

We still have work to do on defense, we have to be a little more aggressive. That's the start of the competition, but I hope we can overcome this hurdle

– Andrea Popa

Romania starts as a big favorite against Japan on Saturday, from 19:00. Andreea Popa urges moderation: “We don't underestimate anyone, we never said that the match against Croatia is an easy one. All teams are strong!”.

In the end, he also had a message for the hundreds of Romanian fans in Rotterdam: “We thank them for always being with us. They are wonderful, they always give us energy. We are grateful to them! I hope they will be with us until the end.”

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)

The program in the Romania group:

• November 27 » Romania – Croatia 33-24
• November 27 » Denmark – Japan 36-19
• November 29, 19:00 » Romania – Japan
• November 29, 21:30 » Croatia – Denmark
• December 1, 19:00 » Japan – Croatia
• December 1, 21:30 » Denmark – Romania