Oranje steamroll Germany after half-time and reach the European Championship final: 35‑11

Germany keep it close for a while

The Netherlands started without Daniëlle Boadi and Fleur Hoek, who are normally in the starting line-up. Germany initially left Lea Witthaus and Madeline Gust, two of their best shooters, on the bench. Sabine Verhoef opened the scoring and Nikki Boerhout converted a penalty, but Hannah Heilmann made it 2‑1 after four minutes. In the opening minutes Germany kept Oranje below five goals.

After that the Netherlands pulled away. Oppe and Wouter Wildschut made it 4‑1 and Faber 5‑1, and after 5‑2 from Johanna Treffts the Netherlands scored four times in a row. Jorien Jordaan made it 9‑2 with the last shot of the first quarter.

Faber on target six times

In the second quarter it was mainly Faber who kept scoring: twice within a minute, later from a free pass, and straight after half-time his sixth from a penalty. Boerhout scored all four of her goals from penalties. Germany scored three times in the second quarter, through Treffts from a free pass, Thomas Freund and Heilmann. At half-time it was 16‑5.

Read more: Oranje pull away from Czech Republic in the second quarter: 36‑6

Ten to one in the third quarter

After half-time Oranje steamrolled Germany: the third quarter ended 10‑1. Oppe scored three of his six goals, with a run-in, a shot under the basket and a long shot, and Jordaan, Peet and Wildschut also scored. Only Lucas Witthaus scored for Germany, at 20‑6. After three quarters it was 26‑6.

Julia Strach, just brought on by Germany, was injured in her first action when Peet landed on her ankle; Gust came on for her. A little later Boadi, who had come on for Brett Zuijdwegt after half-time, clutched her knee. She got back up, but was substituted for Hoek.

Out scores four times in the final quarter

At the start of the final quarter the Netherlands made four substitutions: Olav van Wijngaarden, Harjan Visscher, Annelie de Korte and Alwin Out came on. Out scored four times and Peet three more. Germany managed five goals in the final quarter; Louis Baetzen scored the tenth at 32‑10. Van Wijngaarden settled the final score with two goals in the last minute.

Faber, Oppe and Peet each scored six, Out and Boerhout four each. For Germany, Heilmann and Treffts scored twice. The Netherlands scored more than 30 goals in all six European Championship matches.

The final on Saturday

The Netherlands and Germany have a rest day on Friday. On Saturday at 15:15 Oranje play the final against the winner of Belgium - Czechia, the second semi-final on Thursday evening. Germany play for bronze against the loser at 13:30.