Germany’s handball players failed at the European Championships after a defeat against France in the main round.
The German Handball Association (DHB) team lost on Tuesday evening (11/15/2022) despite a strong fighting performance with 21:29 (9:13) against the overwhelming Olympic champion France. The semi-final is thus out of reach even before the last main round game. To make it into the semi-finals, the DHB selection would have had to win against France and finally against Romania.
Grijseels with seven goals, France ripped off
Captain Alina Grijseels was the best German thrower in Skopje with seven goals, as in all games so far. The team of national coach Markus Gaugisch presented themselves on an equal footing, but in the decisive moments the French were “clearly ripped off“, as Gaugisch also had to admit: “Defeat is okay. We didn’t manage to reach our performance limit.“
DHB team desperate for Darleux
The DHB selection quickly ran behind a residue. Thanks to the strong goalkeeper Katharina Filter, the Germans stayed on at first. But then the Olympic champions picked up the pace and gained a five-goal lead (12:7). Xenia Smits and Co. failed again and again because of France’s outstanding goalkeeper Cleopatre Darleux.
The Gaugisch team started the second round with commitment. The shortcoming initially remained efficiency, but France also found it more difficult on the offensive. The German team now sensed their chance. Ten minutes before the end, Germany got three goals, but the French didn’t let anything burn.
Against Romania it is also about the Olympic ticket
Germany has been waiting for a competitive win against France for 17 years. With 2:6 points, the first two places in the group of six are no longer within reach for the German team. The last game against Romania on Wednesday (3.30 p.m.) is by no means meaningless. With a success, Germany would have the chance to jump to third place, which entitles them to play for fifth place.
This could still be important with a view to participating in a qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games. For this, however, the DHB team needs the support of the French (8:0 points) and Montenegrins (6:2), who have already qualified for the semifinals. France meets Spain (3:5) on Wednesday evening, Montenegro plays against the Netherlands (3:5) beforehand.
The handball players won the only medal at a European championship at the first edition in 1994, and they last stood on the podium at a major event when they won the bronze medal at the 2007 World Cup.