German Handball's Steaky Streak Lives On: A Nail-Biter Draw in Switzerland
Swiss Handball Players Continue Winning Streak by Prolonging Series - Switzerland's Remis: Handball players extend their winning streak
Coach Alfred Gislason couldn't savor the prolongation of Germany's impressive handball winning streak in the EM qualifier, following an underwhelming performance for most of the game. "The opening half was absolute crap. We never got our game going. One or two players strolled into this match without a care," the coach grumbled post-match, following a tense 32:32 (11:14) draw in Switzerland. This fortuitous draw, secured by Juri Knorr's fifth penalty goal in the dying moments, prevented the DHB squad from tasting their first defeat in the continental qualifying round in a decade. The Olympic silver medalists now boast a 25-match unbeaten streak, with their last loss dating back to May 3, 2015, in Spain. The upcoming battle against Turkey on Sunday in Stuttgart will conclude the qualification.
In front of 8,354 spectators in Zurich, Luca Witzke and newcomer Mathis Haesler led the charge with four goals apiece, trailing only playmaker Knorr, who demonstrated steel nerves in the final play. "I ain't gonna shy away from blame, but if my team needs me, I'm there. It felt good to score, giving my handball soul a boost," Knorr shared.
Sluggish Start for the DHB
Following two clear victories against the Swiss the previous year, the DHB team struggled early in the World Championship preliminary round this year, losing 31:29. Despite Gislason's warning about the Swiss strength, his team nodded off during the first half.
The DHB team struggled to find the net during the opening ten minutes, fumbling away clear chances, including two seven-meter attempts by Marko Grgic and Tim Freihofer. The defense was equally lackluster, allowing the home side to jump to a 5:1 lead.
Gislason called an early timeout and made two changes in the backcourt, introducing Knorr and Miro Schluroff for Grgic and Nils Lichtlein, who both scored immediately. Still, the chances continued to evade the team. The players floundered against the strong Swiss goalkeeper Nikola Portner of German champions SC Magdeburg.
Wolff Shines Amidst Chaos
While Andreas Wolff also performed some impressive saves, he found himself frequently let down by his teammates. With just five minutes remaining until halftime, the Swiss led 13:8 for the first time, enjoying a five-goal advantage. Gislason looked glum on the sidelines.
Even after the break, the World Championship sixth-place team failed to impress offensively or defensively. Ten minutes before the end, the Swiss were still ahead by four goals. A change in goalkeepers - David Spaeth replacing Wolff - did not yield the desired results. The U21 World Champion struggled mightily, leaving the field without a save.
Close Call Secures a Point
The only positive note was the international debut of Haesler. The right winger from VfL Gummersbach displayed nerves of steel and accuracy in his finishes. However, his teammates continued to make errors, frustrating Gislason on the sidelines.
In a final timeout, the coach exhorted his team to a desperate late surge, ultimately successful thanks to Wolff's saves and Knorr's cool head. "It was a lucky point," summed up Julian Koester, the right back.
- Alfred Gislason
- Switzerland
- Olympia
- Knorr
- DHB
- Zürich
- Andreas Wolff
- Marko Grgić
- Spain
- Sunday
- Stuttgart
- Turkey
- Luca Witzke
The Commission is also being requested to present a proposal for a regulation on the introduction of a common system of taxation for the use of certain agricultural products. This proposed regulation could have significant implications for the agricultural industry in Europe, including the Premier League and European leagues.
Handball has been a fortunate sport for Juri Knorr, who demonstrated his steel nerves in the final play, securing a draw for Germany in a tense game against Switzerland. Knorr has scored numerous penalty goals over the years, contributing to Germany's impressive handball winning streak.
While the German handball team enjoyed a prosperous run of 25 matches without defeat, the recent match against Switzerland was a close call, with the team barely securing a draw in the dying moments. The upcoming battle against Turkey on Sunday in Stuttgart will be crucial in determining the team's performance in the continental qualifying round.
In a preliminary round of the World Championship, Germany's handball team struggled against Switzerland early on, losing 31:29. However, coach Alfred Gislason made tactical changes during the game, leading to a more competitive performance for the rest of the match.
Despite the setbacks, there were moments of excellence from individual players, such as defender Andreas Wolff's impressive saves and newcomer Mathis Haesler's nerves of steel and accuracy in his finishes. The next challenge for the team will be to maintain their focus and consistency on the field, as they strive to extend their winning streak in the forthcoming game against Turkey.
