Germany vs. Hispanics: Semifinal Loss

This time, Spain’s defense ran into the power of the German first line, capable of scoring 19 goals between Uscins, Köster and Knorr. Luckily, Jordi Ribera’s team arrived at the duel without risk of falling at the first opportunity, reassured by Austria’s victory against Serbia in the other group duel, a previous result that already guaranteed the ticket for the Main Round of the tournament and subtracted drama against a Germany in need of points to stay alive in a tournament that it faces as a medal candidate.

Faced with the imperative need of a powerful opponent, the Hispanics were spurred by the opportunity to add already in the key to the main round and the bitter memory of that semifinal of the Paris Olympic Games, which Andy Wolff’s lock tilted on the German side. But it wasn’t enough.

From the beginning, an authentic German defensive wall and the criteria of Juri Knorr to guide the team led by the award-winning Alfred Gislason on the other side of the field caused the first differences in favor of the German team, minimal in any case. The Hispanics responded with the notable work of Abel Serdio in the middle of the usual bullfighting war in the pivot zone.

The goals were soon joined by the exchange of goals. Sergey Hernández got into tone, but the feared Wolff did even more. The Kiel goalkeeper made up to five worthy saves in the first part of the opening act, but above all he closed his door in situations that were very favorable to the Spanish team.

Two practically simultaneous exclusions of Serdio and Serradilla, pillars in the Hispanic defense, complicated the situation for Ribera’s team, which, however, managed the double inferiority to perfection, without losing along the way the wake of a rival that dominated but with minimal income.

The mobility of the young Hannover pivot Justus Fischer on the six-meter line caused the first German breakaway of some magnitude (12-9) and forced Ribera to take a timeout to reorganize his team’s ideas for the final stretch of the first half. Call to chapter that contained the bleeding, first, and then slightly reduced the disadvantage before the break against the power of Uscins’ launch.

Hits from a distance

The diagnosis during the break was clear: a step forward was needed in defense, with that axis formed by Serradilla and Javi Rodríguez that had been giving such good sensations in the championship. Spain forced Germany to concentrate the vast majority of its attempts on launching from a distance, a fate from which its many gunboats supported it, with Köster and Knorr riding on the bandwagon of the unleashed Uscins.

Between one thing and another, and despite the interesting entry on the scene of Nacho Biosca, an alternative to Sergey Hernández between the sticks, and the hopeful flashes of the very young Marcos Fis, the Hispanics continued to make the rubber. Germany also found a boost in goal with Späth’s saves, and Ribera’s team, on the run, worked to balance the match, trying to iron out that slight but ultimately impossible to erase German advantage. He lacked clarity, also a bit of luck, in a somewhat crazy epilogue. Too much exchange of blows in which Germany’s launch imposed its law. The Hispanics continue ahead in the European Championship, but with a small margin of error.