Germany won the game for fifth place at the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup 2023 in
Berlin against Uzbekistan 15: 8 (2: 2, 2: 1, 5: 2, 6: 3) and thereby gave their goalkeeper
Felicitas Guse a perfect farewell from the national team. It was the last appearance in the
national team for the Bochum native, the 28-year-old will end her international career.
“Retiring here with a win felt good. The game wasn’t what I would have liked, so I’m always
quite self-critical. But it’s nice that we won clearly in the end. In general, this tournament was
once again a great conclusion,” said a happy Guse.
Berlin against Uzbekistan 15: 8 (2: 2, 2: 1, 5: 2, 6: 3) and thereby gave their goalkeeper
Felicitas Guse a perfect farewell from the national team. It was the last appearance in the
national team for the Bochum native, the 28-year-old will end her international career.
“Retiring here with a win felt good. The game wasn’t what I would have liked, so I’m always
quite self-critical. But it’s nice that we won clearly in the end. In general, this tournament was
once again a great conclusion,” said a happy Guse.
So while the World Cup for the German women ended successfully, the DSV men didn’t
really get going until Friday. That’s when the men’s tournament starts in Berlin, Germany’s
opponents in the preliminary round are Malta, South Africa and China.
The game was hard fought in the first half, at half time Germany only led 4:3. After
Kazakhstan equalized right after the restart, Aylin Fry and Gesa Deike then ensured the first
two-goal lead. “We conceded too many easy goals at the beginning and were careless. After
the half-time break, we then scored more counterattacks and motivated each other,” said
Fry. After Germany had survived the subsequent game with a man down and Deike in return
sunk the penalty kick to make it 7:4, the lead was even three goals for the first time. And the
DSV selection continued to go full throttle. Gesa Deike set a good example as captain and
was later named player of the game for her four goals that evening. “After half-time we
concentrated more on defense,” she revealed the recipe for success for the run from the third
quarter onwards.
Jamie Julique Haas with the 10:5 and shortly afterwards Aylin Fry with her fourth goal of the
game ended the last doubts about the German victory right at the beginning of the final
quarter. Pauline Pannasch, Georgia Sopiadou and local hero Emma Koch, who plays for
the Wasserfreunde Spandau 04, ensured a clear success in the end, Jana Stüwe then
provided the icing on the cake with a wonderful backhand-goal.
“We played a good tournament and are now optimistic for the qualification for the European
Championship in June,” said Gesa Deike. The younger players in the squad in particular
learned a lot in Berlin, as Jana Stüwe confirmed: “We have gained valuable experience here
that will help us in the future.” Felicitas Guse also remains optimistic about the future of
German women’s water polo and especially her designated successor Darja Heinbichner:
“Last year she showed great performances at the European Championships,” she said, “so
I’m confident that she will keep things clean in the years to come.”
