For the German national handball team, everything is already at stake against Sweden on Sunday. Because the semi-finals are a long way off – but still possible. The overview.
It will be a real nail-biter for the German national handball team at this EM 2022 in Hungary and Slovakia. Because after the two clear bankruptcies in the main round against Spain (23:29) and Norway (23:28), the team of national coach Alfred Gislason is on the verge of the end, the semi-finals are a long way off. Germany must win against Sweden. Because getting ahead is still possible – it would be a small EM miracle.
The situation in the group before the last two games:
| place | country | games | S | u | N | goal difference | difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Spain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 87:76 | +11 | 6-0 |
| 2. | Norway | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 92:77 | +15 | 4:2 |
| 3. | Sweden | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 85:73 | +12 | 4:2 |
| 4. | Germany | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 76:80 | -4 | 2:4 |
| 5. | Russia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 71:77 | -6 | 2:4 |
| 6. | Poland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 72:100 | -28 | 0 |
One thing is clear: Two wins are needed from the remaining two games – the first on Sunday against Sweden. Anything else would be too little. (Note on the table: The 30:23 victory of the DHB team against Poland was taken from the preliminary round.)
t-online explains the two most likely scenarios in which Germany would make progress:
►Scenario 1: Germany beats Sweden and Russia, while Norway lose their last two games (against Spain and Sweden) or get a point at most. Then the DHB team would have 6:4 points and would be ahead of Norway, which would score 4:6 points. And: Sweden would also have 6:4 points in this case, but Germany would have won the direct duel – and would have been in the semifinals.
►Scenario 2: A three way comparison between Germany, Norway and Sweden! This is where things get a bit complicated: Germany wins their last two games, plus Norway wins against Spain but loses against Sweden. Then all three teams would have 6:4 points and there would be a direct comparison in which the results are listed against each other.
Then it would be important for Germany to win well against Sweden to do something for the goal difference. Because of the 23:28 against Norway, the DHB team is currently at -5, Norway in turn at +5, Sweden still has to play against both teams. It would have to be a win against the Scandinavians with a lead of at least five goals – otherwise the direct comparison is lost and Germany is out.