30′
9:23 p.m
Mertens is served with a great pass on the left wing, but he puts the jump shot well over Portner’s goal.
30′
9:22 p.m
Goal for Switzerland, 13:8 by Lenny Rubin
Germany loses the ball somewhat carelessly when they have the advantage, Rubin has all the time in the world on the counterattack and doesn’t have to be asked twice.
29′
9:21 p.m
Goal for Germany, 13:7 by Juri Knorr
Knorr converted the first seven meter of the game dryly on the right.
29′
9:20 p.m
2 minutes for Lukas Laube (Switzerland)
Golla is already cleared by Köster at the circle, Laube pulls the German back on his throwing arm. Two minutes and seven meters!
28′
9:19 p.m
Time out from Germany! The Swiss have at least broken through a little more often offensively in the last few minutes, Andi Wolff’s save rate has fallen to a still strong 57% (8/14). Gíslason gives his troops new input.
28′
9:18 p.m
Goal for Switzerland, 12:7 by Lenny Rubin
26′
9:16 p.m
Goal for Germany, 12:6 by Juri Knorr
Häfner draws the attention of the Swiss defensive players in the circle, passes to Knorr on the left, who has a clear path and throws the ball into the right corner.
25′
9:15 p.m
2 minutes for Lucas Meister (Switzerland)
The second Swiss two-minute penalty also hits Meister, who can only defend himself against Hannes’ advance in violation of the rules.
25′
9:15 p.m
Goal for Switzerland, 11:6 by Nicolas Raemy
24′
9:15 p.m
Goal for Germany, 11:5 by Johannes Golla
24′
9:14 p.m
Goal for Switzerland, 10:5 by Maximilian Gerbl
Gerbl jumps into the circle from the right wing and finds a gap to the left of Wolff’s stomach.
23′
9:13 p.m
Both Knorr and Köster’s success rate in litters has fallen; both are currently at 50% (3/6). Compared to the Swiss, that’s still decent, Andy Schmid is at around 33%.
22′
9:12 p.m
Zehnder once again bites his teeth into Wolff, but on the other side keeper Portner once again gets behind Knorr’s shot.
21′
9:10 p.m
Goal for Germany, 10:4 by Lukas Mertens
Time play is indicated, a throw lands in the Swiss block. Mertens reacts quickest and throws the ball quite centrally but powerfully towards the goal. Portner parries, but the ball is in the air behind the line. The video evidence confirms this.
20′
9:09 p.m
Goal for Switzerland, 9:4 by Manuel Zehnder
After almost nine minutes without a goal, the guests from the Alpine republic are successful again, Zehnder gets past Wolff.
19′
9:09 p.m
Goal for Germany, 9:3 by Juri Knorr
19′
9:08 p.m
Both sides receive the first two-minute penalty, so both teams are reduced to five players. The Swiss keep taking out the goalkeeper, but that doesn’t lead to any more offensive danger – Wolff with the next save!
18′
9:07 p.m
2 minutes for Sebastian Heymann (Germany)
18′
9:07 p.m
2 minutes for Lucas Meister (Switzerland)
17′
9:04 p.m
Goal for Germany, 8:3 by Lukas Mertens
Defensively, this is a brilliant performance from the German team. Alfred Gíslason’s boys repeatedly block the Swiss offensive players. And when that doesn’t work, Wolff reacts brilliantly. Once again the defense is great, Mertens makes cool use of the fast counterattack.
16′
9:03 p.m
Yellow card for Christoph Steinert (Germany)
In what has so far been a very fast-paced and atmospheric but fair game, Steinert receives the first yellow card in the German team.
16′
9:03 p.m
The DHB selection threw at the opposing goal twelve times, the Swiss only once less. But the efficiency of the Swiss leaves a lot to be desired.
15′
9:02 p.m
Time out in Switzerland! The Swiss can hardly find offensive solutions against a strong and vigilant German bloc. Suter takes his first time out early on, but Gíslason won’t have much to complain about on the other side.
15′
9:01 p.m
Goal for Germany, 7:3 by Timo Kastening
An attack from the right wing to take a four-goal lead! After a strong pass, Kastening has all the time in the world and loads Portner.
13′
9:00 p.m
Goal for Germany, 6:3 by Julian Köster
Julian Köster is the most noticeable man on the pitch so far; he once again has the confidence to make a jump shot from the backcourt. He has already converted three out of four throws.
13′
8:59 p.m
Yellow card for Lukas Laube (Switzerland)
13′
8:59 p.m
And fans in Düsseldorf are always able to cheer on Andi Wolff’s parades. He deflects Rubin’s attempt from the backcourt around the right post.
12′
20:58
Goal for Germany, 5:3 by Juri Knorr
Knorr’s shot rushes through Portner’s legs and into the net.
11′
8:57 p.m
Goal for Switzerland, 4:3 by Lenny Rubin
Rubin fakes well, has a free path in the circle and reduces the score to 4:3.
11′
8:57 p.m
Goal for Germany, 4:2 by Julian Köster
Köster dares to take a jump shot from the backcourt and overcomes Portner in the right corner.
9′
20:56
Both goalkeepers make great saves. Wolff has an outstanding save rate of over 70 percent early on, Portner is currently not far behind.
7′
20:54
Goal for Germany, 3:2 by Julian Köster
Köster has some free space on the half-left side of the circle and uses it mercilessly.
7′
20:53
Goal for Switzerland, 2:2 by Andy Schmid
…the Swiss converts easily in the throw-in.
7′
20:53
7-meter rejected by Andy Schmid (Switzerland)
Wolff parries a seven-meter shot from Schmid…
6′
20:52
Goal for Germany, 2-1 by Kai Häfner
Both teams try to play with a lot of speed, but are still too imprecise in front of the goal. Häfner does it well and sinks the ball with a jump shot from the right wing.
4′
8:50 p.m
Goal for Switzerland, 1:1 by Andy Schmid
Wolff is already heading into the wrong corner and can no longer prevent the impact of Schmid’s touchdown.
4′
8:49 p.m
Now Knorr tries a shot from the backcourt, but misses the goal by a few centimeters on the right. The start of both teams is still marked by failed attempts.
3′
8:48 p.m
Andi Wolff’s first foot save against Raemy is celebrated loudly, the atmosphere in Düsseldorf is impressive.
2′
8:48 p.m
A Swiss attack fizzles out, but Timo Kastening cannot contain the fast counterattack in the goal and throws the ball against the crossbar.
1′
8:46 p.m
Goal for Germany, 1-0 by Juri Knorr
The first German goal of the European Championship was scored by probably the most important man in the DHB team. Knorr welds the ball from the backcourt high into the right corner of the goal.
1′
8:46 p.m
Here we go, the home European Championships! The DHB selection plays in white jerseys, the Swiss appear in red outfits. By the way, Germany clearly leads the direct comparison with eleven wins from 13 games (1D, 1L).
8:43 p.m
Around 50,000 people are now singing the German national anthem and creating an impressive backdrop in Düsseldorf, putting a smile on the faces of one or two DHB actors. A goosebumps moment at the start of the home European Championship! The Swiss national anthem follows and is sung along by the Swiss fan block dressed entirely in red.
8:39 p.m
The Swiss should pay particular attention to the 40-year-old, former Bundesliga star Andy Schmid (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) with all his experience. In the German team, Juri Knorr should of course be the linchpin of the game again; Schmid’s former teammate is separated from the Swiss star by a tender 17 years.
8:35 p.m
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially opened the European Championships a few minutes ago. The celebrated opening show has been running in the Merkur Game Arena for some time, and now the players are also arriving to thunderous cheers. By the way, two Danish referees will officiate the game: Mads Hansen and Jesper Madsen.
8:33 p.m
Group A is a very complicated one for the German team. The French team, against which the DHB squad will be challenged in the third game, is the strongest to be assessed. North Macedonia is the task in the second game, Switzerland, probably the strongest team in the top 4, is today’s opponent. A stumble against the Swiss or North Macedonians before the game against France could cause early nervousness in Alfred Gíslason’s team.
20:26
The favorite teams usually come from Scandinavia, France and Spain. Denmark is the three-time reigning world champion, and the French most recently won Olympic gold. The defending champion in the European championships is Sweden; the Spaniards won the previous two tournaments. Germany, for example, belongs to the extended circle of favorites along with Norway and other nations.
8:15 p.m
Today’s game marks the start of 2024, a special sporting year from a German perspective. The handball players are starting with their home European Championships before the footballers also play the European Championships in their own country in the summer. After the basketball players won the world championship title last year, the handball players want to improve on the big home tournament – or rather present it for the footballers.
8:07 p.m
Handball in a football stadium – around 53,000 spectators will provide a world record crowd for a handball game. The impressive backdrop also creates anticipation among the players, captain Johannes Golla said in advance of the game: “I think it will be overwhelming when we arrive here and the national anthem is played.” The Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf has been in the last Minutes already warmed up and ready for the world record game!
8:00 p.m
Good evening and welcome to the opening game of the German handball players at the home European Championships! In front of the record crowd in Düsseldorf, the DHB team wants to start the European Championship with a win against Switzerland; it starts in Düsseldorf at 8:45 p.m.