The Belgian men’s national handball team, known as the Red Wolves, lost 42-32 to vice-olympic champion Germany in Berlin on Thursday evening, as reported by Sporza.
Playing in front of an entirely sold-out crowd of 12,684 spectators inside the Uber Arena, the Belgian side kept pace through much of the first half before the hosts pulled away after the break.
Arthur Vanhove Surprised by Arena Attendance in Berlin
For national team goalkeeper Arthur Vanhove, the atmosphere in the German capital proved startling. The match drew 12,684 supporters to a completely packed arena, creating an environment that Vanhove noted is impossible to replicate in Belgium. According to Sporza, the goalkeeper pointed out that the venue held more spectators than the total membership of the Belgian handball federation, which he estimated at roughly 12,000 members.
The scoreline sat at 22-18 in favor of the hosts at halftime. While Germany ultimately claimed a ten-goal victory at 42-32, Vanhove regarded the final margin as a respectable outcome against top-tier competition, mentioning that many visiting teams suffer much heavier defeats in Berlin.
Red Wolves Host Italy Next in Hasselt
Little time remains for the squad to dwell on the result in Germany. On Saturday evening, the Red Wolves face Italy at home in Hasselt for their next European Championship qualifying fixture. Headliner noted that Italy enters the matchup following a narrow 34-32 victory over Slovakia to open their qualifying campaign.
Vanhove expressed confidence regarding the upcoming test, telling Sporza that if the team maintains the same mental focus and work rate, positive results remain achievable. The goalkeeper acknowledged that Italy holds the favorite’s tag and has made noticeable strides in recent seasons, but insisted his team holds tactical surprises in reserve.
The top two teams in each qualifying group secure direct qualification for the 2028 European Championship, alongside the four best-performing third-place finishers. Saturday’s match in Hasselt is scheduled for 20:10 local time.
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