National coach Alfred Gislason watched the cheering dance of the German handball gamers with a glad smile. Driven by an incredible Juri Knorr, the DHB choice stormed into the semi-finals of the European Championships and may proceed to dream of the primary European Championship medal for the reason that gold triumph ten years in the past. The Olympic silver medalist held on in the primary spherical remaining in opposition to the document world champions France nerves and impressed at 38:34 (19:15) with an offensive energy that was beforehand lacking within the match.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz was enthusiastic. The CDU politician congratulated the German group from Berlin. “This is a great pleasure,” stated Merz at a press convention. Now he hopes to succeed in the ultimate.
Gislason spoke afterwards of a “phenomenal performance” and was “extremely proud” of the group effort. “We are of course happy that we got the thing,” stated backcourt participant Renars Uscins on ZDF. The weak part within the second half was “kept short this time,” added the 23-year-old: “So it was a great team performance today.” Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, above all, praised the excellent Knorr: “Juri showed the game today that we all hoped he would show.”
Now in opposition to Iceland or Croatia
In entrance of 10,850 spectators in Herning, Knorr was one of the best thrower with ten objectives for the DHB choice, which at occasions acted furiously and which distanced itself from the robust competitors from France, Spain, Portugal and Norway with 8:2 factors within the second part of the match. The semi-final opponent within the semifinals is both Croatia or Iceland. The first group to have world champions and Olympic champions Denmark certified for the semi-finals.
As with the Miracle of Lille on the 2024 Summer Games, when Germany gained in additional time within the quarter-finals, there was boundless pleasure within the DHB camp after the ultimate whistle. One factor is obvious: In this kind, the DHB group can proceed to hope for the primary European Championship medal for the reason that sensational title win in 2016 on the finals in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The robust efficiency in opposition to France also needs to silence discussions about the way forward for Gislason, whose contract runs till the tip of the house World Cup in 2027.
German offensive fireworks
The beginning place earlier than the showdown was clear: a draw was sufficient for the German group to succeed in the semi-finals, the four-time European champions completely needed to win. Both groups went into the sport with corresponding motivation, through which the DHB group needed to do with out protection specialist Tom Kiesler, who was in poor health, at brief discover.
Unlike in earlier video games, the German group was concentrated and efficient in assault from the beginning. The cowl was initially not arrange for this. It was solely after 1 / 4 of an hour that goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who began once more after his reserve position in opposition to Denmark, was in a position to fend off a throw from the French for the primary time.
The parade appeared like a sign to these in entrance of him to be much more aggressive. And they did. After 18 minutes, Germany was inside 4 objectives at 11:7. Knorr performed a significant position on this, as he lastly posed the purpose risk he had hoped for and have become a dominant determine within the first half. In addition, Justus Fischer proved to be a dependable enforcer within the circle.
Defense issues stay with out penalties
France solely countered Germany’s offensive energy with Dika Mem’s purpose risk. The star from FC Barcelona, who’s shifting to German champions Füchse Berlin in the summertime of 2027, was troublesome to seek out. Nevertheless, the DHB choice took a four-goal cushion into the break room to the cheers of the quite a few German followers.
Because Wolff wasn’t an element in any respect within the first half, the nationwide coach despatched David Späth between the posts on the restart. And the 23-year-old delivered initially, in order that these in entrance of him might afford one or two missed throws.
Twelve minutes earlier than the tip, the sport was all of a sudden on the brink once more at 29:28. Wolff returned and instantly defused the primary throw. In the dramatic remaining part, Germany had the higher finish and is now reaching for a medal.
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https://www.zeit.de/news/2026-01/28/medaillentraum-lebt-handballer-stuermen-ins-em-halbfinale