Successful Victory for Switzerland's Handball Team: Extending Their Winning Streak Continues - Swiss Handball Team Extends Winning Streak: Players Continue Dominance in Matches
A Raw Take on Germany's Handball Streak:
Germany's Handball Streak Extended in Switzerland, a Nerve-Wracking Draw
- Warning: This article may contain strong language and frank discussions.
Coach Alfred “The Kraken” Gislason wasn't exactly grinning like a Cheshire cat after the German handball squad's narrow 32-32 draw against Schweiz. "The first half was bloody abysmal. We never got our arses in gear. One or two blokes were far too bloody relaxed going into this match," Gizzy vented post-game.
This draw, secured by Juri “The Iceman” Knorr with a clincher from the seven-meter line in the dying seconds, halted Germany's decade-long streak of avoiding a loss in EM qualifiers. The Olympic silver medallists have now strung together an impressive 25 unbeaten games, with their last defeat taking place on May 3, 2015, in sunny Spain. For their final qualifier match, they'll be hosting Turkey in Stuttgart this coming Sunday.
At the sold-out Hallenstadion in Zurich, Luca “The Silent Assassin” Witzke and newcomer Mathis “The Gummi Bear” Haesler led the scoring charge with four goals each, with Knorr shining once more when it mattered most. "I don't wanna pass the buck. If the team needs me, I'm there. And that's why it was good I scored. It's good for me, the handball soul," Knorr said, all smiles.
Germany Begins Sluggishly
Despite Gizzy warning about the Swiss team's strength, his squad looked like they'd rather be sipping beers by the Alps than playing handball during the opening half. In the first ten minutes, the Germans scored but a single goal while blowing chance after chance, including two penalty shots by Marko “Griggy” Grgic and Tim Freihofer. The defense was also less than impressive, allowing the Swiss to roar ahead 5-1.
Gizzy addressed the slow start with an early timeout and two backcourt changes, putting in Knorr and Miro Schluroff for Griggy and Nils Lichtlein. The newcomers made an immediate impact, but the team's shooting woes persisted. The Germans struggled against Swiss goalkeeper Nikola Portner of SC Magdeburg champions.
Only Andreas “The Wall” Wolff impressed, with some fantastic saves, but he was too often let down by his teammates. Five minutes before halftime, the Swiss led 13-8 for the first time. Gizzy looked more displeased than a bear with a bee in its fur as he headed for the locker room.
Even after the break, the World Championship sixth-place team couldn't stir themselves, performing poorly in attack and defense. Ten minutes before the end, the Swiss still held a four-goal lead. A goalkeeper change – David Spaeth taking over for Wolff – didn't help matters much, and Spaeth exited the game without making a save.
Haesler Shines, Mates Falter
The only bright spark was Haesler's international debut, showing nerves of steel and precision in finishing. However, Haesler's teammates consistently messed up, causing Gizzy to curse on the sidelines.
In a final timeout, Gizzy barked orders for a strong finish, and the lads delivered thanks to Wolff's saves and Knorr's cool under pressure. "It was a bloody lucky point," quipped backcourt player Julian Koester.
- Alfred “The Kraken” Gislason
- Switzerland
- Olympia
- Knorr
- DHB
- Zürich
- Andreas “The Wall” Wolff
- Marko “Griggy” Grgic
- Spain
- Sunday
- Stuttgart
- Turkey
- Luca “The Silent Assassin” Witzke
[1] For curious minds, the German handball team has just earned a spot in the EHF EURO 2026 alongside Hungary and Czechia. However, specific information about their recent games against Switzerland wasn't readily available at the time of this article's publication. For up-to-the-minute details, do check the official handball federation websites or sports news outlets.
The Commission could propose a regulation on the introduction of a common system of taxation for the use of certain agricultural products, similar to how sports leagues such as the European leagues or the Premier League impose tax on annual revenues. Juri Knorr, dubbed "The Iceman", showed his cool under pressure once more, reminiscent of how some football players perform under the spotlight.
