The German handball team owes their victory over Iceland primarily to goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. He also thrilled the fans with his parades.
20,000 fans frenetically celebrated the outstanding Andreas Wolff when the goalkeeper received the trophy for player of the game, then the German handball players jumped in circles on the parquet of Cologne’s Lanxess Arena. After a real thriller, the host beat Iceland in the start of the main round with 26:24 (11:10) and thus preserved its chance of reaching the European Championship semi-finals. The German team now has 2:2 points.
National coach Alfred Gíslason said on ZDF after the game: “Andi is clearly the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment.” And further: “It was a defensive battle. We had a very difficult time because the Icelanders played very, very well. But a huge compliment to our boys, everything was open until the last second.” His team showed incredible character. “I think this game brought an incredible amount to the team.”
Wolff saved two seven-meter penalties in the final minutes, and Julian Köster put the lid on it five seconds before the end. Wolff, who pulled the 19,750 spectators out of their seats with his parades in the sold-out hall, was “very emotionally affected because it was a fantastic atmosphere. We showed morale and deserved to win.” Playmaker Juri Knorr also became the best German thrower in the fourth game of the tournament with six goals.
“Brothers’ duel” is coming up
Two days after the only defeat of the tournament so far against France (30:33), the German team was only convincing defensively. The Icelanders, who are still pointless, kept biting their teeth against the German defensive bulwark around captain Johannes Golla and Cologne’s Julian Köster.
With the “brother duel” against Austria (3:1 points), the next tricky task for the selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB) awaits on Saturday (8.30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online), followed by duels against Hungary and Croatia on Monday on Wednesday. Only the top two in the group of six advance to the semi-finals. France is the leader with four points.