The German team celebrated a successful start to the European Championship. In the 30:27 (12:8) victory over Austria on Thursday evening, the DHB team was not deterred by the opponent’s outnumbered game or by an “uninvited guest”.
One “phenomenal defense” national coach Alfred Gislason confirmed to his team in the first half and the Icelander had every reason to do so. The defense around captain Johannes Golla, Julian Köster and debutant Tom Kiesler wore down the opponent from Austria for long periods of the game and paved the way for an important opening victory in the first half. The Austrians’ slow-paced outnumbered game only presented the DHB team with challenges at times.
“I said this seven against six is ’anti-handball’ and I was confirmed again“, said Germany goalkeeper Andreas Wolff after the game on the ARD microphone. His statements had caused a lot of conversation before the game. Wolff became one of the match winners with twelve saves and a seven-meter save shortly before the end. Captain Golla, however, was voted “Player of the Game” because he anchored the defense in his usual manner and also shone up front: The pivot was the best German thrower with seven goals and provided three assists. Sebastian scored in Austria Frimmel nine times.
Strong defense as the foundation for German victory
The German team didn’t allow themselves to be slowed down by “anti-handball” or by a wasp during their own time-out. “It must have flown over from the Ally Pally,” joked Renars Uscins after the end of the game. At the Darts World Cup in Alexandra Palace in London, a wasp also regularly disturbed the players.
On Saturday the German team will face Serbia in the second group game (8.30 p.m., live on Erste and on sportschau.de). National coach Alfred Gislason still sees room for improvement by then. “I really enjoy defending, we can build on that. But we have to improve in attack.” The most obvious example: Germany failed three times to hit the empty goal that Austria had offered them by removing the goalkeeper. Gislason: “We should have won more.”
German team starts with European Championship debutant Kiesler
In front of 5,820 spectators in the Jyske Bank Boxen, Lukas Zerbe scored the German team’s first European Championship goal, from a seven-meter shot (2nd). The Kieler started the game just like European Championship newcomer Kiesler, who formed the German middle block alongside Golla. And it was the middle block that shaped the initial phase. Austria found no solutions against the German defense and only scored once in eleven minutes. Andreas Wolff also found the match well and was able to distinguish himself several times early on.
Strong defense of the DHB team: Johannes Golla and Renars Uscins against Lukas Hutecek
The Kiel player had no chance against the throws from right winger Jakob Nigg (TVB Stuttgart). The Austrians patiently released the left-hander again and again in seven-on-six situations and thus equalized 6:6 in the 18th minute. It was the “anti-handball” described by Wolff that Austria perfected. As well as the majority worked in parts, the German team was also able to punish the opponent’s empty goal – Golla after a steal to make it 8:6 (20th).
World class from the bench: national coach brings Knorr
Then the national coach Director Knorr came on, which immediately paid off because it gave the German offensive fresh impetus. With a lot of effort towards the goal and his well-known forearm throw, the man from Aalborg Handball made it 10:7 (24th). Once again no chance for Austria’s goalkeeper Constantin Möstl (TBV Lemgo Lippe), who narrowly lost the direct duel against Wolff so far.
The second half started better for the Austrian goalkeeper, with a seven-meter save against Zerbe (35th). But this didn’t lead to an early catch-up because the DHB team could rely on an assertive Miro Schluroff at the front. The Gummersbacher not only got a time penalty against Lukas Herburger, but also scored twice within a few minutes to make it 17:12 (39th).
After a head hit: Späth has to go to Wolff in the meantime substitute
Then there was an involuntary break for goalkeeper Wolff. Frimmel hit the German number one unluckily in the face and consequently had to go to the bench for two minutes. But Wolff also immediately signaled that he couldn’t go any further for the time being – Späth moved into the German goal. The German team was unimpressed at the front and combined artistically to make it 20:15 – via Kempa by Renars Uscins (43′).
In the final phase the game continued to gain momentum and pace. Where previously both teams, but especially the Austrians, took a relatively long time to build up the game, now seven goals were scored within three minutes. A reason for the national coach to bring the injured Wolff back into the game and it paid off. The 34-year-old saved the seven-meter penalty against Frimmel when the score was 28:25 (58th) and secured the important first victory at this European Championship.