Handball Euros: Wolff Criticizes Goalkeeper Debate

Andreas Wolff reacted with angry criticism to the goalkeeper discussion after the German handball players lost the European Championship main round game against Denmark. “I find it incredibly disrespectful to David how this issue was and is being handled. That was totally disrespectful and makes me extremely upset,” Wolff complained to some experts before the reunion with the Danes in the European Championship final on Sunday (6 p.m. / ZDF and Dyn).

In the 26:31 defeat last Monday, David Späth guarded the German goal for 50 minutes. For many spectators, Wolff’s extensive bench role in the duel with the world champion and Olympic champion came as a surprise because the 34-year-old had shown a world-class performance with 22 saves in the previous game against Norway.

Even former national players could only partially understand the decision. “I thought: Okay, let’s give it away,” said 2007 world champion Pascal Hens at Dyn. Handball icon Stefan Kretzschmar said Späth played a good game, but spoke of a debatable signal effect. “What can that mean as a sign for the team? How do I take this as a team in one of the all-important games?” asked the 2004 Olympic silver medalist.

Goalkeeper discussion for Wolff “under the weather”

For Wolff, the discussions are incomprehensible. “It’s amazing that you’ve been playing handball for so many years and yet have so little knowledge of people. We said before the tournament that we were a goalkeeper duo that worked because of our balance and the quality of both of them. And then David starts in a game and the whole world loses its head. I find that disgusting,” he complained.

Before the final, the keeper from the German record champions THW Kiel wrote to the critics: “If David starts tomorrow, it will definitely not be a sign that Denmark is not being taken seriously or that they are giving something away.”