Status: 16.01.2024, 17:46 PM
By: Niklas Kirk
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Against France, the DHB team wants to confirm their form and go into the intermediate round with plus points. The third preliminary round match today in the live ticker.
- European Handball Championship: France vs. Germany | Tuesday, 20.30 p.m.
- With respect for the favourites: Knorr and Gislason set the tone
- This live ticker will be updated continuously
France – Germany -:- (-:-)
| France: | |
| Germany: | |
| 2-minute penalties: | France: Germany: |
| 7 Meter Throws: | France: -/- Germany: -/- |
| Venue: | Berlin, Mercedes-Benz Arena |
Berlin – In the third match of the European Championship, the German national handball team wants to confirm its excellent performance from the first two games and create the perfect starting position for the intermediate round with a victory against France on Tuesday (20:30 CEST/TV info here). The team does not want to be deterred by the French slip-up against Switzerland.
Ahead of the game against France: Knorr calls for mentality, Gislason a "huge performance"
"We should have respect, but not fear." This is how playmaker Juri Knorr describes the right attitude towards opponents France in the Süddeutsche Zeitung. "The tactical", but above all the "mental" would be decisive if the German handball players were to finish the excellent preliminary round flawlessly. And Knorr should know, as he will meet several companions from his time at FC Barcelona against France. Dika Mem, Timothey N'Guessan, Ludovic Fabregas, all still "idols" for the 23-year-old.
However, with a view to the "mental" and the French world record champions, painful memories are quickly awakened. January 2023, just over a year ago, when Alfred Gislason's team faced the same French in the World Cup quarter-finals, their nerves failed all too often. An insufficient number of goals from many good chances finally shattered the dream of the semi-finals.
For coach Gislason, the tournament with the big test seems to be just getting started. Detached from the sovereign victories against Switzerland and North Macedonia, but also from the French blunder against Switzerland, the Icelander knows that it counts today in Berlin: "We have to put in a huge performance to have a chance," said the 64-year-old. Everything else "doesn't matter at all".
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Germany's Juri Knorr celebrates victory over North Macedonia. © Andreas Gora/dpa
DHB opponents France: Bundesliga goalkeeper saves point in second group game
But even if no one believes in a lasting slump in performance for the French, they showed unexpected weaknesses in the last game, especially in attack. While the team around star player and veteran Niklola Karabatic was never able to pull away from the Swiss at any point in the first half, substitute Kiel goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene saved the point with numerous saves in the second half. The 28-year-old tournament debutant is likely to have recommended himself for a start against Germany.
However, the fact that the pressure on the French is so great that they would have to tremble for progress is probably beyond the realm of probability. Since the Swiss and France drew in a head-to-head comparison, the overall goal difference counts for the final ranking. The Swiss would have to make up for a total of 23 goals to win their own game against North Macedonia and at the same time hope for a bitter defeat for the French.
Before the intermediate round of the European Handball Championships – plus points or mortgage for the German team?
Thus, the duel in the late evening will probably also decide who will be allowed to take the points from the direct comparison into the next round. Furthermore, the German team finally knows its other opponents. So far, only Germany and Hungary have qualified for Group 1.
In the best case, the DHB selection can look forward to the third victory in the third game, plus points for the main round and all this against one of the main favorites to win the tournament. There can hardly be a better mental preparation for the main round in Cologne. With our live ticker, you won't miss a minute of the game. Kick-off is at 20:30 p.m. (nki)