Heroically into the semi-finals: Germany’s handball players reach for the longed-for Olympic medal after an insane comeback and a dramatic encore.
The team of national coach Alfred Gislason defeated Tokyo Olympic and European champions France 35:34 (29:29, 14:17) after extra time after a splendid performance and advanced to an Olympic semi-final for the first time since the bronze coup in 2016. There the German team will face Spain on Friday.
With a truly gala performance, the young DHB team silenced the long-simmering cauldron of Lille on Wednesday. The approximately 27,000 predominantly French fans in the rebuilt Stade Pierre-Mauroy football stadium first saw Germany equalize with the final whistle – and then win in extra time led by Renars Uscins, who played like he was unleashed. Captain Johannes Golla and Co. had actually toppled the big favorite.
The German team, which included nine Olympic debutants, was already 14:20 behind in the second half before passionately fighting back.
Karabatic’s dream of a golden career ending shattered
Goalkeeper David Späth also stood out with his saves in a very strong team, the best German scorer was the 22-year-old Uscins with 14 goals. France’s goalkeeper Vincent Gerard made sure that there were no more with a spectacular performance and a total of 23 saves. With this brilliant success, Germany also spoiled the dream of the departing Nikola Karabatic of a golden end to his career.
While the DHB women had to throw in the towel after a defeat against France the day before (23:26), the men can dream more than ever of the first Olympic victory in indoor handball since the GDR’s success in 1980 after their first victory against France in a major tournament in eleven years.
Gislason had stressed before the match that the mood in the team was “overall positive, very good and very relaxed”. Nevertheless, he was certain: “We have to play one of the best games of the last few years – if not the best game.” How this can work was shown right from the start. When Knorr and Heymann made it 4:2, the heated atmosphere cooled down.
Quarterfinal show by Renars Uscins
However, this quickly changed again. Because the defense was now conceding a few easy goals through the circle and Andreas Wolff was unable to get a hold of the ball, France took control. Gislason adjusted and brought Späth into goal when the score was 7:9. But this measure did not initially have any effect either.
Späth did make some strong saves straight away, but because the German shooters were already being stopped by Gerard, a former Kiel player, in the French goal, France temporarily pulled ahead to 17:12. Späth brought Germany back into the game by halftime with great reflexes.
The DHB selection was not impressed by the French team’s lightning start in the second period with three quick goals in a row (14:20). Within a few minutes, Knorr and Co. pulled back to 19:21 and took the lead with just under ten minutes to go. A dramatic final phase developed, with France leading with six seconds to go when they had possession of the ball, but Dika Mem, who had been outstanding up to that point, lost the ball – then Renars Uscins’ show began.
Source: www.sport.de
