"Poorly skilled" handball players achieve victory in a heated conclusion
Title: "On the edge" - Handballers hold their ground after a shaky performance in Switzerland
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After a tumultuous game, Germany's handball team emerged victorious in the EM qualification, tying against Switzerland in a thrilling finish. Top scorer Juri Knorr clinched the game in the final seconds.
The final whistle blew, and Germany's handballers stormed off the court, but their jubilation was tinged with trepidation. Head coach Alfred Gislason looked on, a furrowed brow betraying his thoughts after the nail-biting 32:32 (11:14) draw. A rollercoaster performance, riddled with mistakes, had left the team hanging by a thread.
"We can be content with this point," remarked DHB sports director Ingo Meckes. "We've secured the group victory, but we've received a clear warning," he added, referencing the sluggish first half that nearly derailed their plans. Gislason echoed these sentiments, criticizing lax play from some of his players and lamenting their initial performance.
Last-second equalizer seals victory
Facing a 4-goal deficit with just minutes remaining, Germany dug deep and scored a string of goals to force a tie. The dramatic equalizer came from Knorr's penalty in the final second. Besides Knorr (6 goals), Luca Witzke (5) and debutant Mathis Häseler (4) shone in the German comeback, playing in front of 8,354 spectators at the Hallenstadion in Zurich.
Powering ahead, Germany now leads the group with an unsurpassable 8:2 points. Switzerland and Austria follow behind with 6:4 points each. The European Championship qualification final will take place on Sunday against Turkey in Stuttgart (6:00 PM/Sportschau.de and Dyn). Although the team had already secured their ticket to the European Championship before the Switzerland game, first place is crucial for seeding in the final tournament. The draw for the championship will take place on May 15th in Herning, Denmark.
A hair-raising struggle
"Every point matters, and we have to win every game to secure our top spot," Gislason had stated before the match—comments that seemed prophetic as the team stumbled out of the gates. Technical errors, nerve-wracking mistakes, and missed opportunities plagued the German team for extended periods. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff managed to keep some balls from corners, but Germany quickly found themselves trailing.
Marko Grgic and Tim Freihofer missed two seven-meter penalties in the opening minutes, handing Switzerland a 5:1 advantage after ten minutes. Gislason called a timeout early, shuffling the entire backcourt, but even a small burst of energy from the Icelander seemed insufficient. Despite goals from Miro Schluroff, Knorr, and Julian Köster that narrowed the gap to 4:5 (15.), Swiss goalkeeper Nikola Portner barricaded the goal, and the hosts pulled away once more.
When Germany conceded two goals in a power play, the deficit swelled to 8:13 (26.). The Swiss team, under the guidance of coach Andy Schmid, continued to score with their 7:6 attack play, while Germany struggled to find their footing. It wasn't until the closing moments that the Gislason-led team narrowed the gap—Knorr taking advantage of his opportunity from seven meters.
Handball | Men's National Handball Team | Men's European Handball Championship
[1]: Icelandic Handball Federation [2]: Handball Planet [3]: Handball 24 [4]: Handball Bundesliga [5]: Swiss Handball Federation [6]: World Handball Federation [7]: Germany Handball Association [8]: European Handball Federation
- In a crucial European Championship qualification game, Germany's handball team, including top scorer Juri Knorr, fought back from a 4-goal deficit to draw against Switzerland, with Knorr scoring a last-second penalty to secure the tie.
- Despite securing the group victory, the handball national team received a warning after an offensively shaky performance against Switzerland, marked by technical errors and nervous mistakes.
- In the aftermath of the thrilling draw, Knorr's performance was amplified with his crucial contributions, as lightning-fast calls, such as substitutions and tactical changes by coach Alfred Gislason, were not enough to avoid these errors.
