As of: January 18, 2024, 8:57 p.m
By: Hannes Niemeyer
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Excitement at the European Handball Championships!
There was an embarrassing situation surrounding the Icelandic national anthem during the Germans' main round game against Iceland.
Cologne – It was supposed to be a big spectacle, but it started with a huge embarrassment.
On Thursday evening at 8.30 p.m. the German national handball team met the selection from Iceland at the home European Championships.
For the DHB selection, the game marked the start of the important main round.
Traditionally, both teams line up shortly before the start of the game in the sold-out Lanxess Arena in Cologne.
The national anthems are playing.
Moving moments.
When the German anthem was played, not only the handball stars around captain Johannes Golla sang along loudly, the fans also joined in.
This was followed by the Icelandic anthem.
A special moment for DHB trainer Alfred Gislason, as he was born in the island state in the North Atlantic.
Gislason had announced in advance that he wanted to sing both hymns.
But when the Icelanders got ready and the first notes sounded, the confusion was huge.
Germany against Iceland at the European Handball Championship: There is an anthem scandal before the game
Because there was an anthem played in the hall, but it wasn't the Icelandic one.
A most unpleasant situation.
Of course, it didn't go unnoticed for long in the hall, especially with the many Icelandic fans who had come especially for the event.
There was quickly a loud whistle concert in the hall.
The players also looked extremely confused, shaking their heads.
Incredulous looks and hustle and bustle at the mixing desk at the Handball World Cup.
An anthem faux pas raises eyebrows at the Germany-Iceland game.
© Screenshot: ZDF
Germany coach Gislason also went straight to the jury and towards those responsible, immediately signaling that something was going very wrong here.
After a few seconds the melody fell silent in the hall, the hall announcer asked for a round of applause for the Icelandic team and commented on the situation with “that can happen.”
However, the damage had long since been done.
Wrong anthem played at Germany’s European Handball Championship game – ZDF man sees “great embarrassment”
The unpleasant situation was of course also noticed on television.
The commentator duo Christoph Hamm and Markus Baur noticed the scene on ZDF.
“So the whole game again.
Embarrassing number here,” Hamm acknowledged the scene on TV.
The malice didn't stop there on social networks either.
“The players’ faces were so cool!
Man, how embarrassing, hey,” commented a fan on X (formerly Twitter).
Many joined in the malice.
After a short break, which the fans filled with applause and loud shouts of “Island”, the technique was finally set.
The right anthem sounded and coach Gislason sang along.
And the game could then begin.
(han)