where will the tournament finish?

• Reporter Adrian Jitea and photojournalist Ionuț Iordache are in Rotterdam with the Romanian national team and transmit all the information and images that matter
• The other two matches of the day in Rotterdam Ahoy are Senegal – Japan (16:30, score 23-27) and Hungary – Denmark (21:30), the duel for the head of the group.

On the day of the last World Cup match we are where we should be. Beyond bold dreams and trail-blazing defeats, we have reached our hand.

The stakes in a win and a loss against Switzerland is huge. From the 9th position, a little above the goal, to a disastrous 17th place. The lowest ranking in the history of the national team, equaling the forgettable edition of 2001.

Today, a few more Romanian fans in the stands. More than 200 yellow shirts colored the generous arena in Rotterdam. Almost two weeks in which he was an impeccable host.

For the last time, “Wake up, Romanians!” One last “Come on girls!” and move on to the serious work on the floor.

Romania, perfect with Switzerland

Two minutes of readjustment with a parquet floor that is not to the liking of the handball players – at least that's what Lorena Ostase told us – and then off. The defense was at its mercy, as was the man behind it. Bianca Curment has blocked 46.7% of the shots faced, 7 interventions.

All the best on the other half circle. Successive ones flowed perfectly towards the extremes. Mihaela Mihai and Bianca Dumitrașcu rewarded the efforts of their colleagues. In the first 30 minutes, Lorena Ostase slipped under the opponent's mark at every attempt. The situation was clear from the break. 18-9 advantage, teams from different leagues.

Goodbye Rotterdam half

With the points already passed in the standings, the tricolor handball players started the half softly. Ovidiu Mihăilă waited only 3 minutes and asked for time-out. Sorina Grozav listened carefully, two consecutive goals that calmed the enthusiasm of the opponents.

The only unpleasant aspect of the match was the injury of Switzerland star Tabea Schmid. Hostages, from another movie. One with handball superheroes. What does she recommend? Grip and precision! Curment does what it knows and does well. Seraficeanu enters with a zest for the game, Laslo scores.

“Gangster” Alicia Gogîrlă wasn't kidding when she said she wanted to make her mother proud. He didn't manage, he threw himself over the opposing defenders with two consecutive successes.

On such a score, nothing to dispute, no one to criticize. The regrets remain related to the match against Hungary, a national team far from peak form, which we “forgave” too many times.

The MVP of the match, obviously, Bianca Curment!

Mission accomplished, real progress!

Romania will finish the tournament in 9th place, the best performance since the bronze won in 2015. And a progress that gives confidence with a view to qualifying for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles:

• CM 2021 – 13
• Euro 2022 – 12
• CM 2023 – 12
• Euro 2023 – 11
• CM 2025 – 9

Next year, with European groups in Cluj-Napoca and Oradea, the “tricolore” are bound to continue their climb. Especially since the tournament is a qualification criterion for the Olympic Games.

FINAL standings of the main group:

FINAL » Switzerland – Romania 24-36

min. 57: Cristina Laslo again, followed by Gogîrlă! 22-24
min. 55. Laslo scores with a run from the far right. 22-32
min. 52: Sorina Grozav, straight into the net. 19-31
min. 51: It's Sonia Vasiliu's turn to receive her applause! 19-30
min. 48: “Gangster” Alicia Gogîrlă rush in between two defenders! 18-27
min. 44: Seraficeanu, spectacular elan and goal in the net. Curmenț does what he knows, he defends another throw. 16-26
min. 41: Another Ostase goal, Switzerland time-out! 14-25
min. 40: Ostase, on the counterattack. 14-24

min. 37: Tabea Schmid, the star of Switzerland, cries out in pain. She cannot step with her right foot, she is helped by doctors to leave the field. After consulting the video system, Elena Roșu sees the red card. 13-22

min. 37: First goal for Laslo, another save for Curmentă. 13-22 min. 36: Lorena Ostase recovers a ball coming from the bar and scores. 13-21
min. 34: Sorina Grozav interrupts the disastrous period, a counterattack completed with a throw of 81 km/h. 11-19
min. 33: Ovidiu Mihăilă is already asking for time-out, after 3 balls lost in the attack! 11-18
min. 32: Curmenț continues his gala evolution. 9-18
The second half has begun!

46.7%is Bianca Curment's percentage in the first half, 7 balls saved from 15 shots faced

Romania leads 18-9 at halftime!
min. 30: Goal and from the far left, Gabriela Dumitrașcu! 9-18

min. 30: Ovidiu Mihăilă asks for time-out to design a last attack. 9-17
min. 28: Curment makes a great half. The gallery chants his name. Sorina Grozav scores one more time. 8-17
min. 27: Another superb sequence with Mihai at the end. 8-16
min. 25: Romania strikes from all areas, now from the extreme right, through Mihaela Mihai! Curment defends fantastically! 8-15

min. 24: Rebeca Necula is hit by Gautschi. Two minutes removed, Romania scores through Asma Elghaoui. 7-14
min. 22: Elena Roșu also scores on the counterattack. 6-13
min. 20: Elena Roșu, goal from own half in the empty net. 5-11
min. 19: Elimination of two minutes in the Switzerland camp, after a hard entry on Mihaela Mihai. Necula scores from 7 meters. 5-10
min. 18: Claire Hartz defends the throw from 7 meters executed by Sorina Grozav. 5-9

min. 17: Daphne Gautschi, with the most beautiful goal of the match, an effective throw past the goalkeeper. Dumitrașcu chooses the safe way to answer, loudly and in a way! 5-9
min. 16: All Ostase, same excellent combination. 4-8
min. 15: The combination with the pivot is lethal, another Ostase goal. Switzerland lose the ball on offense. 4-7
min. 13: Complicated moments, double inferiority for Romania. Tabea Schmid converts a 7-meter shot, the opponents score one more time in the empty net. 4-6
min. 12: Action at speed by Switzerland, with the engagement of the pivot. Sonia Seraficeanu fouls and is eliminated for two minutes. 2-6

min. 11: Sorina Grozav can't be stopped. 2-6
min. 10: Curmenț defends, goal on counterattack Dumitrașcu! Switzerland is already asking for time-out! 2-5
min. 8: What penetration Rebeca Necula manages! 2-4
min. 6: Careful on the recovery, Sorina Grozav scores. Tabea Schmid, the star of Switzerland, immediately answers. 2-3
min. 6: Lorena Ostase again, courtesy of Sorina Grozav. 1-2
min. 5: Lorena Ostase unlocks the scoreboard for Romania. 1-1

Lorena Ostase in Switzerland – Romania / PHOTO: Ionuț Iordache (GSP.ro)

min. 3: Romania has not yet entered the rhythm of the match. Two misses from 1 vs. 1 with the goalkeeper from Grozav and Seraficeanu. 1-0
The match has begun! Approximately 500 spectators in the stands, most of them Romanian. Switzerland had the kick-off.

18:53: Romania's handball players leave the locker room. Hymns to come!

UPDATE AT 18:30 » The heating is in full swing

The handball players of the two teams are warming up.

As always, Sorina Grozav, Lorena Ostase, Rebeca Necula and Sonia Seraficeanu also tested their foot tennis skills.

UPDATE AT 18:00 » Final in Senegal – Japan! What does it mean for Romania?

Japan came back against Senegal and prevailed 27-23. The Japanese provisionally overtake Romania in the ranking.

As we anticipated, for Romania there are now 3 options: win with Switzerland (9th in the tournament), draw with Switzerland (most likely 11th) and unwanted failure with Switzerland (17th). It would represent a repeat of the worst performance in history, that of 2001.

UPDATE 17:00 » The two handball players who do not catch the score sheet

According to GSP information, Ovidiu Mihăilă decided that the goalkeeper Elena Șerban and the extreme left Eva Kerekes will remain out of the game sheet today.

Romania's results in the preliminary group: