Eleven options – This is how Germany reaches the semi-finals of the European Handball Championship

The dream of the semi-finals at the European Handball Championship is still alive, but for that the German national team needs a win against Hungary on Monday evening. Here you can find all the news about the game.

12:10 a.m

Eleven options – this is how Germany reaches the semi-finals

How can the semi-finals of the European Handball Championship still work? In principle, the simplest formula is: Germany needs two wins against Hungary and Croatia, while Austria gets a maximum of two points – then the DHB team is in the semi-finals. Theoretically, there are a total of eleven possible variants, none of which allow Germany to lose to Hungary. France, Hungary and even the draw could also play decisive roles – and even a German victory could be enough. This is what the table looks like before the third main round match day:

This is how the German team reached the semi-finals of the European Handball Championship:

This is based on the rule that in the event of a tie, the direct comparison (points, goal difference, number of hits scored) applies first, then the goal difference and the number of hits scored from all games. If this does not lead to a decision, a draw is made.

01/21/2024 • 10:00 p.m

The first semi-finalists have been determined

In the main round group II, which will be played in Hamburg, the top two group winners have already been determined after the third matchday. World champion Denmark can no longer take the group win after the 29:23 win against Norway on Sunday evening, Sweden will definitely move into the last four in second place after the 40:33 against Portugal. The last main round game day on Tuesday is no longer important for both top Scandinavian teams.

If Hungary or Germany qualify for the semi-finals as runners-up in the group, the top favorite Denmark would be waiting, which has so far presented itself as strong and confident in the tournament as no other team.

Jan 21, 2024 • 9:46 p.m

Little sleep for Germany’s handball players

On Saturday evening, the German players were welcomed by a few dozen fans at the team hotel in Cologne, with applause and words of encouragement. Most people didn’t sleep until late at night after the offensively disastrous performance against Austria, as sports director Axel Kromer revealed on Sunday. “Because of course the follow-up with the boys was very long, with a lot of conversations. Nobody could really get to bed because things didn’t go as hoped.”

Jan 21, 2024 • 9:06 p.m

Hungary with more European Championship victories than ever before

Incidentally, Hungary’s men’s national team has never achieved four wins at a European Handball Championship since the first event in 1994. The Hungarians achieved their best placement at the European Championships in Italy in 1998, when three wins from six games were enough for sixth place out of twelve teams. If Hungary wins against Germany on Monday evening, they would at least qualify for the game for fifth place. So it could be a historically good European Championship for Chema Rodríguez’s team.

January 21, 2024 • 8:30 p.m

Rodríguez – “We are a family”

After the 29:26 win against Croatia, Coach Rodríguez felt some satisfaction. “I’m sure after the game against Austria many people thought we weren’t a good team,” said the Hungarian coach. “But today we showed that we are a team, a family.”

Jan 21, 2024 • 7:53 p.m

Hungary has only lost against Austria so far

Like the German team, the Hungarians have only lost one game at this European Handball Championship. In the preliminary round there were three wins against Montenegro, Serbia and Iceland – the 29:30 defeat against Austria at the start of the main round came as a bit of a surprise. The defense was back on track against Croatia on Saturday – and goalkeeper László Bartucz was brilliant with 16 saves. Coach Chema Rodríguez’s team has it in their own hands to make it to the semi-finals: with wins against Germany and France on Wednesday, the Hungarians would have eight points, since Austria and France could still play against each other, only one of the two teams could end up ahead of the Hungarians.

Jan 21, 2024 • 7:02 p.m

No Player interviews on Sunday

The reduced line-up of the media panel on Sunday made it clear how explosive the starting situation is for Germany’s handball players. Instead of several players, only Axel Kromer was present this time. The DHB sports director asked for your understanding. “The follow-up for the boys was very long yesterday. Nobody could really get to bed because things didn’t go as hoped,” said Kromer. Video analyses, tactical discussions and lots of regeneration are now more important for the team.

January 21, 2024 • 6:20 p.m

Now the calculation begins

There are still ten possible constellations as to how the DHB team can make it to the semi-finals. The easiest way looks like this: Germany wins the final main round games against Hungary on Monday and against Croatia on Wednesday and Austria loses to Olympic champions France or Iceland. “It’s not a path for losers, we have to take it. We need every man for that,” demanded playmaker Juri Knorr.

Germany is in fourth place in its group of six behind record world champions France, Hungary and the ÖHB selection. “Now what we wanted to avoid has happened,” complained Kastening: “This shitty calculation of what happens if…”

Jan 21, 2024 • 5:37 p.m

Welcome to the live blog

It is the sixth game for the German handball players at the 2024 home European Championship – Alfred Gislason’s team is doomed to win against Hungary if they still want to reach the semi-finals. It starts on Monday evening at 8.30 p.m., ZDF will broadcast the game live. The audio stream is available on sportschau.de, the reporters Thorsten vomwege and Thomas Koos once again have ARD expert Dominik Klein at their side.