The German handball men ended 2023 with a victory. In the second European Championship test against Egypt, the DHB selection won 28:27 (17:12) on Sunday (November 5th, 2023).
As in the 31:31 draw in the first test against Egypt on Friday, national coach Alfred Gislason’s team impressed with their tempo game. The hosts repeatedly scored quick goals. Timo Kastening (8) and Juri Knorr (7) contributed the most hits. U21 world champion David Späth also delivered a strong performance in goal.
After an even start, the hosts pulled away from the middle of the first half. Lukas Mertens gave the team a comfortable lead for the first time in the 23rd minute with his goal to make it 14:10. Christoph Steinert set the final point in the first 30 minutes with a remarkable Kemper goal to make it 17:12.
Egypt comes close in the second half
In the second half the flow of the game was somewhat lost and Egypt came back to within one goal in the final phase. Three minutes before the end, the guests had the chance to equalize, but Späth, who came on again for Silvio Heinevetter, spectacularly prevented a Kemper attempt by the Egyptians.
In return, Nils Lichtlein scored to make it 27:25. In an emotional final phase it went back and forth, but the DHB selection kept their nerve in the sold-out Olympic Hall when Egypt reduced the score to 28:27 with 20 seconds to go.
Course at the end of December
Before the end of the year, national coach Gislason calls his squad together for a short course (December 27th to 29th). There are two more test matches against Portugal in January before things get serious at the home European Championship on January 10th with the opening game against Switzerland in the Düsseldorf Football Arena.
The other opponents in the group phase are North Macedonia and Olympic champion France.