Status: 06.01.2024, 22:06 p.m.
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A handball is caught. © Ronny Hartmann/dpa/Symbolbild
The German handball players are ready for the European Championships at home. An important victory was achieved against Portugal. A veteran is seriously injured and misses the tournament in Germany.
Kiel - Germany's handball players have completed a successful dress rehearsal and won the last test match before the home European Championship. The DHB selection prevailed against outsiders Portugal 35:31 (20:15) on Saturday in the Kiel Handball Arena and gained confidence for the European Championship opener on Wednesday against Switzerland. In front of 9113 spectators, Juri Knorr was the best German thrower with six goals. The first duel with the southern Europeans on Thursday had already been won by the team of national coach Alfred Gislason.
However, the euphoria is clouded by Patrick Groetzki's injury. The 34-year-old veteran injured his foot and will miss the European Championships. "An initial radiological examination showed that the old foot injury, which Groetzki had been out of action until the beginning of December, has recurred and therefore leads to the European Championship elimination for the national player of the Rhein-Neckar Löwen," the DHB announced on Saturday evening.
The DHB entourage therefore moved on to North Rhine-Westphalia without Groetzki and with only 17 men, where they will open their medal mission on Wednesday in front of 53,000 fans in the Düsseldorf football arena. Other preliminary round opponents are North Macedonia and France. Germany are not among the favourites for the winter highlight in their own country, but are dreaming of the semi-finals.
"Bitter diagnosis" for Groetzki
National coach Alfred Gislason shuffled his starting line-up compared to the first duel with the Portuguese. In addition to Renars Uscins, Groetzki was also expected to gain match practice for the winter highlight in his own country.
After about 23 minutes, however, the game was already over for Groetzki. The oldest member of the German squad was injured without the influence of an opponent and limped off the pitch. With his face contorted in pain, he cooled his foot and buried his face in the towel. "First and foremost, this is an extremely bitter diagnosis for Patrick, which of course also hits the national team and the Rhein-Neckar Löwen hard," said DHB sports director Axel Kromer.
More aggressive in defence
For the first few minutes, both teams played on an equal footing. Among the German assets were left winger Lukas Mertens and backcourt player Julian Köster, both of whom exuded a powerful goal threat. In defence, however, the DHB team lacked intensity and the underdog took advantage of the gaps. After ten minutes, Portugal took the lead for the first time (7-6).
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As a result, Gislason changed the central block and brought young hopeful Justus Fischer and Sebastian Heymann into the game. "Very good in attack and we are now also more aggressive in defence," praised Gislason in the first timeout. Portugal now scored much less often and Andi Wolff underlined his world class with his first saves. Even Groetzki's injury did not unsettle the German seven and pulled away to 20:15.
Lichtlein gets minutes of action
After the break, Gislason brought in new energy and the U21 world champions Nils Lichtlein and David Späth in goal as well as veteran Kai Häfner gained match practice. From a German point of view, the changes did not harm the course of the game and the DHB team extended its lead to seven goals (27-21).
Germany was now playing itself into a frenzy. The Kiel fans rose from their seats and celebrated the appearance of their European Championship hopefuls, for the first time La Ola sloshed through the arena.
Technical errors creep in
When everything looked like a sovereign victory, Germany's handball players allowed themselves a little slack. In attack, Timo Kastening and Co. made too many technical mistakes and the lead shrunk from seven to three goals. Gislason took a timeout and sent leader and playmaker Knorr back onto the field. Germany continued to struggle, but deserved to win in the end. Dpa