“Without Messi you have no chance” – fans carry Germany to victory
German handball players disassemble Argentina into all its individual parts – the goal party in the video
The German national team put a big exclamation mark at the start of the main round of the World Cup. Against overwhelmed Argentines, the DHB team got into a frenzy, especially in the first half, and celebrated a huge victory. The highlights in the video.
The national team sparks the next spectacle at the Handball World Championship and outclasses Argentina at the start of the main round. In addition to the outstanding goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, the German selection is carried to success by the euphoric spectators.
Dhe small stand with fan paraphernalia in front of Katowice’s Spodek had no customers. You could buy scarves from the German selection and horns there, but at least the supporters of the national team were well equipped beforehand. Because indoors in the arena they sparked such a strong atmosphere in the following game that they carried the team to the 39:19 (24:11) victory over Argentina in the first main round game of the Handball World Championship in Poland and Sweden.
After just under a quarter of an hour, the class difference between the two opponents was so great that the German supporters began to sing the appropriate chant for the evening: “You don’t stand a chance without Messi,” echoed through the hall. A thoroughly adequate assessment, because while Argentina’s soccer magician Lionel Messi had fought his way through to the World Cup triumph in Qatar around four weeks ago, his ball-throwing colleagues had no real chance against the spectacle of the team of national coach Alfred Gislason.
In addition to the spectators who loved to sing, this was also due to the outstanding goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who had an unnerving effect on the Argentines with a number of saves during the first half and strengthened his own team. And so he was also celebrated with chants by around 2000 German visitors during the game.
Germany’s goalkeeper Andreas Wolff (right) towered over the South Americans and was celebrated during the game
Quelle: dpa/Jan Woitas
“You enjoy it with the whole team when you play a great game yourself. What the fans chant is their business,” said the 31-year-old after the game. “I am very happy that so many of them are appearing in the hall, supporting us and creating such a great atmosphere. If we continue to be pushed like this, we’ll continue to play with the eighth man behind us,” said the goalkeeper. “We are well advised to only think game by game. We enjoyed playing handball today. The performance can certainly be built on.”
Germany outclassed Argentina
Lukas Mertens, who was voted player of the match, was also impressed afterwards – by the performance and the atmosphere. “You have to say that we were very, very good. We knew we had a flow and we confirmed that flow today,” said the left winger. “Overrunning Argentina in the first half with such an attacking performance, only conceding eleven goals and throwing 24, that was outstanding,” said the man from the German champions SC Magdeburg.
“We get the euphoria, we see that we really have a lot of support. We are also successful now, which is all the better for the fans. Outstanding! And that’s also a big factor for the next games,” said Mertens. “We know from the Bundesliga that this home advantage is extremely important. Why don’t we fill up Katowice a little bit with Germany fans? There are still a few places left in the hall.”
In fact, the mighty arena holds more than 11,000 spectators, but even with a 20 percent occupancy rate, the fans turned into a small witch’s cauldron, as they did during the three preliminary round games.
National coach Gislason satisfied
With the eighth man behind him and a big lead, Gislason was able to change his formation early on in the game. Wolff and Mertens were allowed to take a breather during the second half and were replaced by Joel Birlehm and Rune Dahmke. The national coach also largely left the style of play and tactics to his own.
The German fans in the hall were in a party mood
Quelle: dpa/Jan Woitas
During a break, he only gave one instruction: “Play what you want.” A rather rare statement from the Icelander, who is obsessed with detail. “We had a great run, that’s why I said that,” said Gislason after the game. “The tactics are often just a few words, as a code, the boys understand that. They are doing great at the moment.”
So great that after the fourth win in the fourth World Cup game, the door to the quarter-finals is now wide open. A win on Saturday (8.30 p.m.) against the Netherlands could mean early entry into the knockout stages before the last main round match against Norway (Monday, 8.30 p.m.). Many German spectators will probably make a pilgrimage to the Spodek again – and come up with some fan songs.
