Handball
Fight for the European Championship semi-finals: Even two bankruptcies can be enough
The German handball players have a place in the European Championship semi-finals in their own hands after their win against Norway. There are several options to get into the top four teams.
The math games have begun for Germany’s handball players at the European Championships. In the main round games against world champions and Olympic champions Denmark on Monday and against European champions France on Wednesday, national coach Alfred Gislason’s team can make it into the semi-finals on their own.
Germany leads the table in Group 1 with 6:0 points ahead of the French and Danes (both 4:2). They are followed by Norway and Portugal (2:4 each) and bottom team Spain (0:6). “It’s outstanding that we are in this situation. But we have the two best teams of the tournament in front of us. They won’t give in and say, let’s go to the semi-finals,” said captain Johannes Golla before the two top duels.
Germany will reach the semi-finals if
– the DHB selection gets at least two points from the final two main round games against Denmark and France. It doesn’t matter whether the points in the event of a possible defeat are recorded with a win in the other game or with two draws. With 8:2 points, Germany would definitely be at least second in the group. If the DHB team gets three or four points, they will definitely qualify for the semi-finals as group winners.
– the German team gets a point from the duels with the Danes and French and one of the two rivals loses its other remaining main round game against Norway (Denmark) or Spain (France). In this case too, the DHB selection would be guaranteed at least second place in the group with 7:3 points.
– the DHB team loses both games – against Denmark but not by more than one goal -, the Danes lose their last game against Norway, France does not lose against Spain and Portugal wins its remaining games against Norway and Spain at the same time. If there is a tie on points with Denmark and Portugal (all 6:4), the three-way comparison would decide. The trio would also be tied on points (all 2:2). However, the German team would have the best goal difference (+1) and would advance as second in the group behind France.
dpa
