Flash quotes: 28 November

INNSBRUCK – Comments from the Netherlands head coach Henrik Signell (SWE), right back Dione Housherr and left back Lois Abbingh (both NED) at a photoshoot on Wednesday.

NETHERLANDS

Henrik Signell (SWE) – coach

On their EHF EURO 2024 expectations:

“We have focused more on shorter goals, process goals, performance goals. We haven't set a result goal, a specific position. We will try to go to the main round with the optimum of points. From there, we will have a new discussion.”

On the second match against Germany:

“I think all who know about handball think that the Netherlands and Germany are the two best teams in our group. But you never know. We want to play good in all three matches. But of course it's a key match to win.”

On their opener against Iceland:

“They are a team which is improving. Many players are good in one against one. They play a modern handball. And we know, the first match is always difficult.”

On the changes in the Dutch squad:

“It is of course to be strong as a team and to make sure that every player we select wants to improve and to fight for medals again. It was five years since we took a medal and we want to improve and fight for it again.”

Dione Housherr (NED) – right back

On the atmosphere in the team:

“The atmosphere in the team is really good. Playing another championship is just really something special. And this one is really close to the Olympics, so it feels a little bit strange to already have a new tournament, but I think everyone is feeling good, and especially really exciting how it's going to be this tournament.

“We have some changes in the team, so it's always exciting how this group can perform now. So we're just really looking forward to start and see where we are with this team now.”

On their EHF EURO goals:

“Especially now with this little different team, we just really want to focus on the first games. We want to six points and go to the next round, and from there we will see. It's good for us that we have some small goals in the team.”

On their first opponents, Iceland:

“We did not play that often against them, but we know they are good, they have some good individual skills. They have also played against some good teams and they challenged them.

“It's hard to really describe what the game will be, but the first game in a tournament is always a little difficult, everyone has to get this feeling of the championship again. I think it will be exciting, but it's also a little strange to play against a team you haven't played against many times.”

On the match against Germany:

“This game will be really important. I think Germany and us, we are the best in this group, so this will be already a little final. We played many times against them, so we know each other really well, and many of us played against some players from them in the clubs, so of course it's all about the details, that make the difference.”

On the playing style under their new coach Henrik Signell:

“It is a Dutch-Scandinavian mix. Through the years we created our own Dutch style, so I think we still have this, and of course Scandinavian handball is really good. With his ideas and experience he has, he also brings this to the team, but I think we have a good basic in the national team, and he just adds many details and experience he has from different teams before, this a good combination.”

On the majority of Dutch players playing in clubs abroad:

“It is really good that we play all over the world, so everyone gets a different experience. Unfortunately the league in the Netherlands is not the best, so we need to go abroad. So against every team we play with the national team we know some players from the clubs.

“It's a strength for our team that we get a lot of experience abroad, and to stand up or survive in that way in another country also gives me as a team mental strength.”

Lois Abbingh (NED) – left back

On their EHF EURO expectations:

“Our goals are always high, but we also have to say that we obviously have lots of new players, including young players. We want to play for the medals, but first we have our goal of finishing on top of our group in Innsbruck.

“We lost a bit of experience, but when you come here as a player you always expect a medal, but I don't think we're ready yet to say that we're fighting for the medals, because there are so many good teams here.”

On their preparation:

“We saw it in the last test matches that it still takes a bit more time, especially in defence. Kelly Dulfer was in the middle block for years, now without her it still needs a bit of time.

“In attack we obviously always have the people we played with a lot, but the defence can be difficult, if we aim for a medal. I don't think attack has ever been the problem for us, but we would like to play better defence, so that's our goal again now with a new coach.

“Players like Dione Housherr and Larissa Nüsser will take more leadership, and they are ready for it. Inger Smits and I are the last old ones.”

On the key match against Germany:

“We know them well, there will be not that many surprises. A lot of our players still play in the Bundesliga or we know them from the other international clubs. It's always nice to play against Germany.

“This match will be crucial in terms of the rest of the tournament. Both have to win, this match will decide the base for both in the main round. With Norway and Denmark and both of us, there will be four contenders for the semis, you just have to win the group in Innsbruck to remain in the race.”