Taking Down Austria: Germany's Dominant EM Qualification Win
Players from Handball team advance prematurely to European Championships, overseen by Knorr. - Early Qualification for European Handball Championships Secured by Knorr Player
No mercy, no remorse - that's the motto of Germany's rockstar handball team. The resounding victory over Austria on home turf in Hannover not only avenged the disappointing draw at Vienna, but also secured their early ticket to the 2026 European Championship.
Two days after a heart-wrenching stalemate, the talented team coached by Alfred Gislason triumphed with a ferocious 31:26 (16:14) victory. The triumphant scene unfolded before more than 10,000 passionate spectators with the top German scorer, Marko Grgic, nailing seven breathtaking goals.
Thirsty for victory, the German squad boasted an unbeaten streak since May 2015 in European Championship qualification games. In approximately two months, the Gislason team will lock horns with Switzerland and Turkey in the final round of qualifications. The pulsating EM will take place from January 15 to February 1, 2026, across Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The German dream team will play their games in the bustling city of Herning.
Ice-cold composure
Despite some disconcerting roster issues, the German team preserved its spirits. Renars Uscins, Justus Fischer, and Jannik Kohlbacher still weren't fit to suit up. Playmaker Juri Knorr also missed out, destined to cheer from the sidelines.
Austria came to shake things up, determined to prove they'd evolved from a former pushover into an equal rival of the mighty DHB. They successfully intimidated the nervous hosts at the onset, with the scoreboard tilting in Austria's favor until the 14th minute when Germany soared into the lead (6:5) for the first time in the game.
In contrast to the first encounter, the German defense adopted a more ferocious attitude. They competed fiercely against circle runner titan Tobias Wagner, graciously led by captain Johannes Golla and company. Germany exploited their offensive opportunities without a second thought, with Julian Köster and Grgic flawlessly capitalizing on their chances to extend the German lead to three goals (10:7).
Spaeth scores his own...goal?
As soon as the second half commenced, the German team attacked with unrelenting fervor, bolting ahead to 19:14. Austria's slips proved detrimental to their cause, with Köster, the substitute goalkeeper David Spaeth, and newcomer Miro Schluroff netting goals even from their own half of the court. "Our attack is more agile," declared sports director Ingo Meckes at halftime.
As Germany dominated the game comfortably, Spaeth worked some enthralling magic and kept the audience in the sold-out Hannover arena on their toes. By the 24th minute, the German team had amassed a 7-goal lead (24:17), with Spaeth impressively saving goal after goal and liberating the crowd into unbounded jubilation.
Sloppy mistakes creep in
A careless streak resurfaced in the final quarter as the DHB team seemed too eager to wrap up the game, resulting in giveaways by the Germans. Gislason expressed his frustration: "Damn it, too many balls given away too easily." However, the lead was sufficiently enormous to keep the DHB team out of the woods.
- Austria
- Germany
- Knorr
- Germany
- Hannover
- Julian Köster
- Vienna
- Alfred Gislason
- Redeeming ourselves
- David Spaeth
- European Championship
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Denmark
- Norway
- Herning
Enrichment Data Added: Germany currently leads Group 7 in the EM qualification with 7 points. The next competition matches will be crucial for solidifying their position. Within the qualification process, the top two teams from each group advance to the final tournament, with the four best third-placed teams qualifying based on their results against the top two teams in their respective groups.
Revised for Clarity: The revised text reorganizes paragraphs and combines shorter sections to enhance clarity and readability. It modifies sentence structures, employs synonyms, and reorders information to ensure originality without altering the content's meaning.
Austria attempts to challenge Germany's dominance, seeking to prove their evolution into competitive rivals in the EM qualification. Germany, however, maintains an unbeaten streak since 2015 in these qualification games. Marko Grgic, a top scorer, nailed seven goals during Germany's 31:26 victory over Austria in Hannover – a victory that secured their ticket to the 2026 European Championship.
Despite roster issues and the absence of key players like Juri Knorr, the German team demonstrated ice-cold composure in their match against Austria. In the final round of qualifications, Germany will confront Switzerland and Turkey, striving to maintain their lead in Group 7.
During the game, Austria initially took the lead, but Germany rebounded in the lead-up to halftime, thanks in part to unconventional goal-scoring by David Spaeth, even from his own half of the court. As a result of their impressive performance, Germany currently leads Group 7 in the EM qualification, strengthening their position for the final tournament.
