The German handball players are eliminated from the World Cup in the last seconds. A strong Andreas Wolff and a nerve-wracking seven-meter thrower Lukas Zerbe are not enough in the end and Portugal wins at 31:30 NV (26:26, 13: 9). Martim Costa hits victory three seconds before the end of the game.
The surprise team of the World Cup is the first four and will meet top favorite Denmark in Oslo on Friday. In the second semi -finals, host Croatia will meet European champion France on Thursday. For Germany, on the other hand, the dream of the third semi-finals after the home European Championships 2024 (fourth place) and Olympics 2024 (silver). This continues the wait for the first World Cup medal since the Gold Triumph 2007.
“We are all very mega disappointed”said Zerbe in the sports show interview. “I am proud of how we fought back, we even had it in our own hands. We have to learn from that.”
Zerbe and Wolff keep Germany in the game
In front of 7457 spectators, the 29 -year -old had with his coolness from the seven -meter point – he met all of his seven attempts – ensured that the weak German attack performance could be concealed for a long time. The Germans threw just six goals out of the game in the first half – only thanks to Wolff’s nine parades (at the end of 21) we went into the break with 9:13.
“The mortgage from the first half is very, very large because we are not in the game for 30 minutes”said captain Johannes Golla. The defense, for a long time with a great performance against the dreaded Costa brothers, did not get Martim Costa in the last attack.
German team without Thumping power in attack
Francisco “Kiko” Costa at the end of eight of his 15 throws, his older brother Martim only hit four out of twelve – but the decisive one after 69:57 minutes. “In one moment we are not compact enough, cannot make contact” “Golla was annoyed. The fact that it even went into the extension was due to the up and down of the DHB team in the 60 regular minutes. The start failed again, despite five Wolff parades in the first five minutes. Once again, the German team lacked the lightness that she had led to silver at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Planless German attack game
Without the battered Juri Knorr, who was sitting on the bench after his flu disease, Germany’s attack started too inaccurate, too slow and too impetuous. Portugal started with a 5-1 run, Gislason reacted and changed his 24-year-old top playmaker (10th). The DHB team worked to 6: 7 (19th), but continued to show hardly a clear plan and again made too many mistakes. Unlike the lively Portuguese, there were hardly any creative moves to be seen, and the game over the circle was completely missing.
The speech of the national coach seemed to have fertilized during the break, Knorr and Köster scored important goals right at the beginning of the second half (11:14). In the 34th minute, the Portuguese defensive then suffered a bitter damper. Luís frade caught Uščins on the face and consequently received the red card. “Could be a Gamechanger!”comments world champion Johannes Bitter the scene.
German 4-0 run brings the first tour
The fourth goal of Captain Golla – finally the circular runners were staged – restored the connection, Germany turned a 16:18 a 20:18 and was in the lead for the first time. “They no longer know what to do”Gislason gave his team during the time -out (43rd). The accurate ceremony equalized in the 45th minute by penalty and brought the German team back into the game. The Portuguese probably also felt this and weakened themselves with unnecessary time penalties. Lukas Zerbe (7/7) remained freezing cold and scored in two-goal leadership of the Germans (47th).
A wild exchange of blows developed in the final phase. Again and again Wolff was there in the German goal, but at the front, slight mistakes crept into the offensive game. In the 52nd minute the DHB team was in double outnumbered, Gislason immediately took the time out and warned: “Now we have to be really smart!” Sleeper was particularly smart Juri Knorr, who scored an important goal in the time game (23:22). Portugal fought back, however, and saved himself in the excess because the German offensive in the last attack did not lead to a litter.
Martim Costa decides extension
The extension opened Juri Knorr with his seventh goal. On the other hand, “Kiko” Costa equalized again with his eighth goal (27:27). Portugal, who had been lucky until then, even brought Portugal with a double strike with two goals in front before Zerbe was able to shorten a penalty throw (63.). With the 20th parade, Wolff opened the second half of the extension – Zerbe turned ice cold from seven meters again (29:29). But with the final siren, the Pusless Martim Costa (4/12) scored the 31:30-dredging gate for the Portuguese and secured his team the first semi-final in the story.