Germany’s junior handball players are world champions. The U19 selection of coach Erik Wudtke prevailed on Sunday in a dramatic finale of Cairo against defending champion Spain after twice extension with 5: 4 in seven-meter throwing. In the end it was 41:40 for the DHB selection.
After the regular season it was 27:27 (14:16). After the first extension 31:31, before the Shootout From point 36:36. In total, both teams were in the field for over 80 minutes.
Fulminant final sprint
90 seconds before the end of the second extension, Spain had already looked like the safe winner in a three-goal lead, but Germany saved himself into seven-meter throwing with a brilliant final sprint. There became DHB-Keeper Finn Knaack with three parades to Match winner. He and Tim Schröder were ins All-star team chosen this World Cup.
For the German handball federation, the title is the crowning glory of this tournament summer. The U19 juniors had already won EM gold in July.
Gislasson is already looking into the future
“Very, very good! Really outstanding. At the end of the second extension, they were as good as gone at minus three. This team just has a great character”national coach Alfred Gislasson is quoted, “We will also see some of the German and Spanish boys in the A national teams in the coming years. For us, it was also a great performance.”
A-national team can add to its own country in 2027
Germany was in a World Cup final after 2019 for the second time with a male U19 national team. At that time, the selection around today’s international players Nils Lichtlein and Julian Köster lost to Egypt and won silver. The juniors have achieved this, of which adults have been dreaming of for almost 20 years – a World Cup title. The last time the German A national team became world champion in 2007. In 2027 the World Cup takes place again in Germany.
Twice extension
After a false start and many technical mistakes, the German team ran after a five-goal deficit early on. The DHB team fought back and was able to compensate for 20:20 in the 42nd minute. Because goalkeeper Knaack came into play better, Germany took the lead ten minutes before the end of the regular season (24:23). Six seconds before the final whistle, Füchse-professional Jan Grüner had the chance to win, but failed almost freely on the Spanish keeper.
In the first extension of a total of ten minutes, the German team then awarded a two-goal lead. In the second extension, the southern Europeans then won a comfortable lead that they gave.