LIVE Hungary – Romania, in the main group at the Women's Handball World Championship

• Reporter Adrian Jitea and photojournalist Ionuț Iordache are in Rotterdam and convey all the information and images that matter
• Today, in the main group I, the matches Japan – Switzerland (4:30 p.m.) and Denmark – Senegal (9:30 p.m.) are also played. Both will be liveTEXT on GSP.ro.

Hungary – Romania, a quarter-final match at the World Championship, live from 19:00

Romania aims at the World Championship to rank among the top 10 national teams. The two wins over Croatia and Japan opened the talk of a qualification for the quarter-finals. The failure with Denmark, drastic if you look at it score, 31-39did not completely remove the excitement.

The national team prepared by Ovidiu Mihăilă can still reach the top 8. Victory against Hungary is mandatory to keep hopes alive, but the bookmakers see such a scenario as unlikely. The Hungarian national team has an average share of 1.35 to victory, while the tricolor representative is rated with 4.50.

Ranking when entering the main group:

The first two places qualify for the quarter-finals.

Why does the favorite Hungary start? Why should Romania hope?

Hungary is the bronze medalist at last year's edition of the World Championship. On the way to this performance, the Hungarian handball players also defeated Romania, a clear 37-29.

A lot of data has changed since then. First of all, the Romanian players came to the final tournament with a different morale. All have gotten minutes at clubs in recent times. Lorena Ostase, in a dialogue with GSP reportersexplain how important the pace of competition is.

And the setting is different. In December 2024, the match was played in Debrecen, with almost 4000 Hungarian fans, an extremely hostile atmosphere. Today, it will be played in Rotterdam Ahoy, where Romanian supporters are expected in greater numbers.

2019it is the year of Romania's last victory against Hungary, 28-27, in the main group of the World Championship. Meanwhile, the Hungarian women won 4 disputes

Hungary have retained their coach from the final European tournament, Vladimir Golovin. Hungarian handball players practice a modern handball, at speed, with players with penetrating power. The IHF draws attention to three of them, coordinators Petra Vamos and Petra Simon and right winger Katrin Klujber. In last year's contest, Klujber was MPV, with 10 goals.

Katrin Klujber / PHOTO: Imago

Romania's results at WC 2025:

Hungary's results at WC 2025:

Romania believes in surprise! Lorena Ostase: “It will be equal to equal”

In the Romanian camp there is moderate optimism. Ovidiu Mihăilă and his students are aware of the fact that more is needed in defense, but they do not see the match lost from the start.

I already talked a little with the girls. I think that Hungary doesn't even have that momentum from last year, to play at home, to want so much at home. It is a very important factor. Wednesday will be evenly matched! I am convinced and we will certainly have more supporters than them. It's a very important thing. We are aware of where and when we play. We didn't expect so many people to come to every match. They amazed us! If we have more fans than them, we won

– Lorena Ostase, for GSP.ro

Hungary comes with 4 points from a balanced group and to them to some extent. I hope the girls recover very well, we have time at least visually to watch what Hungary can offer. In terms of game preparation, it's very difficult on a training day. Therefore, motivation must remain the important factor to be able to keep the team on a balanced line. And to beat Hungary. Why not?

– Ovidiu Mihăilă, the Romanian coach

Romania's schedule in the main group:

• December 3 » Hungary – Romania
• December 5 » Romania – Senegal
• December 7 » Switzerland – Romania