Germany fails against Denmark and misses out on reaching the final

The DHB team went into the duel against Denmark as outsiders – and started the game well. However, the world champion was too strong in the second round.

The dream of winning the European Championship has been shattered: the German handball players failed in the semi-finals against Denmark with 26:29 (14:12). National coach Alfred Gíslason’s team started the game well, could also rely on keeper Andreas Wolff, and deservedly led at the break. In the second half, the Danes turned up the heat and dominated the German team, which was ultimately defeated.

This means that Denmark will move into the European Championship final and will face France on Sunday (from 5:45 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online). Instead of fighting for their first title since European Championship gold in 2016, Germany will now play for bronze against the dethroned European champions Sweden on Sunday (from 3 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online).

The best German thrower on Friday evening was 21-year-old Renārs Uščins with five goals, and Andreas Wolff showed a strong performance in goal. Emil Jakobsen, Simon Pytlick and Mikkel Hansen scored most often for the Danes (five goals each).

The German team had to digest twice the bad news on the way to the much-heralded “miracle” before kick-off: Kai Häfner left at short notice for personal reasons, while right winger Timo Kastening stayed in the team hotel due to a slight infection. “It’s a real shame that both of them can’t play,” said Gíslason on ZDF and emphasized: “We have to play a phenomenal game in defense and in goal. We are very big outsiders, we know that. But maybe that’s where our chance lies .”

Germany initially showed this “phenomenal game”. Intoxicated by the deafening backdrop, Knorr and Co. got off to a dream start. Without fear of the Danish stars around striker Mathias Gidsel, the DHB team showed a defensive masterpiece and consistently completed their attacks.

When Knorr made it 7:5 with his second goal (12th minute) and Wolff parried for the first time, the arena shook. The German bank also applauded every successful move, and Gíslason raised his fists.

As a result, the Danes got into the game better, but again and again Wolff or the German defense were the last stop for the opposing attacks. “The same intensity continues,” Golla called out to his teammates during a timeout when the score was 9:8.

The belief in the sensation grew, also because Häfner representative Uščins really turned up the heat and made it 12:10 (27th) with his fourth goal. Knorr and the lively Rune Dahmke even increased the score to 14:11 (29th).

“We defended outstandingly, brought in a lot of toughness and dynamism and played courageously up front,” praised DHB sports director Axel Kromer at the break: “We just have to carry on with courage and self-confidence.”

The DHB men continued to give their all, threw themselves into every action and fought until they dropped. But Denmark now showed their full class – and benefited from their squad depth. Emil Nielsen was now allowed to replace Niklas Landin in goal and held one ball after the other. Mikkel Hansen was now in charge in the middle, after whose pass Simon Hald gave Denmark the first lead at 16:15 (36′). After Gidsel scored 26:21 (53′), the decision was made, even though the German team never gave up.