Norway in front of us, quarterfinals on our mind – “Spain is our kryptonite”
German handball players storm brilliantly into the World Cup quarterfinals – the highlights in the video
The German national team advances to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Despite initial difficulties, there is a sovereign victory against the Netherlands in the end. Andreas Wolff shines in the German goal. The highlights in the video.
The intoxication of the German handball players continues. The fifth convincing victory in the World Cup was achieved against the Netherlands. Now it’s up against Norway to win the group, then France or Spain are waiting in the quarter-finals. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff already has a wish.
Dhe intoxication persists and a hangover is not in sight. The German handball players continued their winning streak at the World Cup and reached the quarter-finals early. The DHB selection also showed a strong performance on Saturday evening and defeated the Netherlands 33:26 (15:12). This means that the knockout round is already complete before the final main round game on Monday (8.30 p.m. / ARD) against the Norwegians, who are also qualified.
“We are very, very happy that it went like this today,” said Johannes Golla after the game on “ZDF” and was happy about an “outstanding defence”. National coach Alfred Gislason found it “extremely nice” to have reached the quarter-finals before the last main round game. “The games are getting harder now, all of which are coming now,” said Gislason with a view to the upcoming opponents.
In front of around 5,000 spectators in Kattowitz, Poland, the outstanding playmaker Juri Knorr was the best thrower of the still undefeated German team with nine goals. As so often in this tournament, goalkeeper Andreas Wolff also delivered a more than convincing performance.
This will also be important in the future. The Norwegians on Monday are already among the best in the world. And in the quarter-finals, the DHB selection meets either Olympic champions France or Spain.
“I’m not that surprised because we’ve played outstandingly before. We knew beforehand that we have more grains. And that was what made the difference in the end,” said goalkeeper Andreas Wolff about the latest success, which was actually also a physical victory resulting from the depth of the squad.
Title ambitions could not be elicited from Wolff, but there was a clear tendency which of the two top teams he favored for his team in the quarter-finals. “We now want to defeat Norway. Then Spain or France are waiting for us in the quarter-finals, two opponents in the absolute top category. In principle, France could suit us better because the Spaniards are a bit our kryptonite. Although I think that the Spaniards are usually a bit weaker than the French. But we have to go full throttle against Norway first,” said Wolff. His credo: “Keep this flow going, get one more win and then we’ll concentrate on the quarter-finals.”
In the end, German quality prevailed
The German team was already challenged by the Dutch, at least in the first round. National coach Alfred Gislason and his players hardly missed an opportunity to warn their opponents before the game. That it would be a completely different game than the 39:19 against the hopelessly overwhelmed Argentinians. You should be right.
From the start, an extremely fast-paced and close encounter developed in Katowice. A two-goal lead was initially the highest that the DHB selection could play out. Because the Dutch kept coming back. Only in the second round did Germany pull away.
Driven by their playmaker Luc Steins, the Oranje team kept rolling towards the German defense at a crazy pace. The DHB selection needed a few minutes to adjust to this. It was only when Wolff, who was strong again, saved a seven-meter throw in the 11th minute, that the German team took the lead for the first time shortly afterwards. And didn’t fall behind after that.
Once again it was the youngest in the team who shaped the game of the DHB selection. The Dutch never got a grip on the 22-year-old Knorr. Similar to Steins, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen professional led his team’s attacks at high speed.
If the Dutch defense formed quickly enough, he always found a breakthrough with his own shots. Or he just converted his seven meters. Knorr was involved in almost every dangerous action of the DHB selection.
“We did well in most phases, that’s why we’re up three goals,” said DHB sports director Axel Kromer at the break. After the change of sides, the German team then extended their lead because the Dutch didn’t want to succeed at all in the meantime.
But the enemy never gave up. Because, unlike the German team, he lacked alternatives on the bench, it became clear in the end. But that should be different against Norway. And in the quarterfinals anyway. “Spain is extremely experienced and ripped off,” warned national coach Alfred Gislason, hitting the same note as his goalkeeper.
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