EM qualification: draw in Switzerland: Handball players are expanding series

Germany’s handball player has averted the first defeat in the EM qualification in the last second in ten years. In doing so, they expanded their success series in continental excretion to 25 unbeaten games. The team of national coach Alfred Gislason came to a happy 32:32 (11:14) after a faulty and disappointing appearance in Zurich against Switzerland.

The last defeat for the DHB selection was on May 3, 2015 at 20:26 in Spain. In front of 8,354 spectators, Juri Knorr with five goals was the best thrower for the Olympic second, who had previously secured the ticket for the 2026 European Championship. Knorr equalized shortly before the end. At the end of the qualification, the DHB selection receives Turkey on Sunday in Stuttgart.

Germany with false start

After two clear victories against the Confederates last year, the DHB team had extremely difficult at the beginning of the year at 31:29 in the World Cup preliminary round. Although Gislason had warned against the strength of the rival, his protégés slept the first half.

In the first ten minutes, the German team only scored one goal because the clearest chances – including two seven meters were awarded by Marko Grgic and Tim Freihofer. Since the defense was not up to date, the home side quickly pulled away to 5: 1.

The national coach reacted to the false start with an early break and two changes in the back. For Grgic and Nils Lichtlein, Juri Knorr and Miro Schluroff came, each introduced equally well with one goal. Nothing changed on the chances. Again and again the DHB players failed due to the strong Swiss goalkeeper Nikola Portner from the German champion SC Magdeburg.

Andreas Wolff also showed some glossy parades, but too often the German keeper was abandoned by his forefends. The Confederates rushed to five goals for the first time five minutes before the break at the 13: 8. Gislason looked accordingly grimly when walking into the cabin.

Even after the change, the World Cup sixth could not convince neither in attack nor in the defense. Ten minutes before the end, the courageous Swiss were still in front with four goals. Even a change of goalkeeper – for Wolff David Späth moved between the posts – did not bring the hoped -for effect. The U21 world champion had to clear his place after a few minutes without a parade.

After all, a small ray of hope was Häseler’s international debut. The right wing of VfL Gummersbach showed itself nervous and effective in the end. But his side people acted too faulty, which gislason repeatedly angry on the sidelines. During a last break, the national coach swore his team on an energetic spurt, which, especially thanks to the Wolff parades, was actually still successful.