The German handball players have reached the semi-finals of the European Championships. Coach Alfreð Gíslason’s team won the decisive game of the main round group against defending champions France with 38:34 (19:15). In front of 10,850 spectators in Herning, Denmark, Juri Knorr was the best DHB thrower with ten goals. Ten years after winning the tournament in Poland, the German handball players can hope for the European Championship title again.
The German team showed its best tournament performance. After an even opening phase (7:7), the German defense found its way into the game outstandingly and ensured eight minutes without conceding a goal. Within a short time, Germany moved ahead to 11:7 (18th). Justus Fischer and substitute Knorr in particular turned up the heat. The goal to make it 15:11 (25th) was Knorr’s fifth goal in his fifth attempt; he had already scored six times at halftime.
But France did not allow themselves to be discouraged after the break and caught up. Because the DHB team made a few missed throws, the lead narrowed to just one goal twelve minutes before the end (29:28). The decisive factor in the victory against the third-placed team in the World Cup was the good nerves in the final phase.
Germany will face Croatia in the semi-finals
“We played really well, the flow of the game was there,” said Renārs Uščins on ZDF: “It was a great team performance. We are just happy, and now there are still two big tasks left, the next two games will be intense.” In the semi-finals, the German selection will face Croatia on Friday. Thanks to Denmark’s 38:24 result against Norway, the German handball players ended the second phase of the tournament as second in the group, while the Croatians moved into the round of the last four thanks to their 27:25 win against Hungary as first in the group.
In the decisive main round game against defending champions France, Gíslason again relied on his regular outside players Lukas Zerbe and Lukas Mertens. Rune Dahmke and Tom Kiesler, who was unable to play, took a break.
On Monday, the DHB selection initially missed the early semi-finals. The German handball players lost 26:31 against hosts and top favorites Denmark. The two main round victories against Norway and Portugal gave the team a boost after the mixed preliminary round.
