Germany's Handballers Keep Unbeaten Run Alive in Switzerland With a Nail-Biting Draw
Swiss Handball Players Continue Series Extension - Switzerlan-based handball players continue their winning streak in series competition
Mind the wild ride, mate! Alfred Gislason, the German handball team's gaffer, was far from elated when his team managed a 32:32 draw against Switzerland in the EM qualification. "It was a bloody shambles in the first half," he ranted, "we never got off our arse. We had a few sluggish ba**ards sauntering into the game."
The chaotic draw, secured by Juri Knorr sinking a seven-meter goal, saved the German team from their first loss in a decade in the continental qualifiers. These Olympic silver medalists have now notched up 25 consecutive victories. Their last defeat, a 20:26 loss in Spain in 2015, still looms large. The Olympic silver medalists prepare to host Turkey in the Stuttgart scrum this Sunday to seal the qualification.
8,354 riled-up spectators in Zurich had a nail-biting match, with Luca Witzke and debutant Mathis Haesler leading the scoring charge, netting four each. Knorr, the playmaker extraordinaire, displayed nerve-wracking bravery in the final seconds. "I don't pass the buck onto others," he smirked after his clutch goal, "if my team needs me, I'm on hand. That's why it's alluring to score. It does my handball heart good."
First-Half Fumbles
After winning convincingly against Switzerland last year, Germany struggled in the World Cup preliminary round this season, losing 31:29. Despite Gislason's warnings about the Swiss might, his team snoozed through the first half. The team could only bag one goal in the opening ten minutes, blowing chances like a careless gambler throwing away his chips.
Two seven-meter shots by Marko Grgic and Tim Freihofer missed their mark, and the defense was as solid as a jellyfish. The home team raced to a 5:1 lead.
Gislason whipped out his timeout card to shake his team out of their slumber, bringing Knorr and Miro Schluroff in for Grgic and Nils Lichtlein. Each newcomer scored immediately, but the shooting woes persisted. Missed opportunities kept piling up against the Swiss goalie Nikola Portner, who's as tough as a German tank crew.
Wolff and the Double Whammy
While Andreas Wolff saved a few impressive goals, his teammates let him down often. Five minutes before the break, the Swiss led 13:8, their largest margin of the game. Gislason looked more displeased than a bloke who's just dropped his last sausage roll.
The second half barely saw an improvement in attack or defense. With ten minutes left, the Swiss still led by four goals, and a goalkeeper switch, with David Spaeth replacing Wolff, seemed to have no effect. Spaeth didn't even get the chance to save a ball before exiting with an injury.
Nails on the Chalkboard
The fresh-faced Haesler, making his international debut, provided a sliver of hope. His cool under fire and keen finishing got the crowd off their feet. But his teammates kept on messing up, driving Gislason to distraction on the sidelines.
In a tense final timeout, the gaffer roared his team on for a strong finish, which they achieved thanks to Wolff's heroics and Knorr's ice-cool nerves. "It was a lucky point," summarized Julian Koester, a backcourt player.
Alfred GislasonSwitzerlandOlympiaKnorrDHBZürichAndreas WolffMarko GrgićSpainSundayStuttgartTurkeyLuca Witzke
The Commission, after the nail-biting draw in Switzerland, might consider proposing a regulation on the introduction of a common system of taxation for the use of certain agricultural products similar to how the German handball team carefully maneuvered their taxing game against Switzerland. In the European leagues, even the Premier League, football players often face challenging situations reminiscent of the German handball team's struggles, requiring courage and resilience to secure valuable points just as Knorr did in the final seconds.
