Handball European Championship 2022 – Germany beats Poland: a fortress in the back, a catapult in the front

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Julian Köster was one of the best against Poland

Photo: Tilo Wiedensoler / imago images/camera4+

Choirs remain allowed:

The German handball players had announced countermeasures to get their corona outbreak under control with nine infected players. Apparently, they were not forbidden to sing together. The remaining 14 players stood close together during the German anthem before the European Championship duel against Poland, their arms around the man next to them, and their mouths were also moved together.

Scene of the game:

Once, in the 43rd minute, Julian Köster took a long shot. He stood in the air for what felt like an eternity, raising his arms as high as he could. Köster is two meters tall, so it really was a fortress that Köster set up with his block in front of the German goal. And the Polish attackers did not hit the castle with their throw at that moment. Köster, 21, is still one of the newcomers to the team, in the club he only plays in the second division in Gummersbach. But all that didn't stop him from being one of the best German players against Poland.

Result:

The German C-Team went into its third European Championship game against Poland with major corona concerns - and emerged as the winner.

The final score was 30:23, so the DHB selection went into the main round without losing any points.

Read the match report here.

Preparing for the game:

it practically didn't happen, no sweating, just a long wait.

After the six corona cases on Monday, the German handball players who were not (yet) infected spent their Tuesday waiting for their PCR results in the single room.

"That was our preparation," said a slightly annoyed national coach Gíslason before the game against Poland.

The bad news: With Till Klimpke and Marcel Schiller, two more corona cases were added.

First half:

The German team, with their many nominees, built up patiently in attack and attacked hard on defence. Poland was considered the best group opponent, but the weakened DHB selection was - unlike in the previous duels - most of the time in the lead. At the same time, you could rely on Köster's defensive block and Christoph Steinert in attack, who scored 100 percent of their shots in goal. Köster scored three goals, Steinert six. The break: 15:12.

Substitute of the day:

The infections of Klimpke and Andreas Wolff meant that Gíslason only had the next-nominated Johannes Bitter as goalkeeper. Actually, Silvio Heinevetter should also move up – but he also reported a positive corona test from Germany. Bitter, 39, came to Bratislava from Hamburg via Vienna that morning. The oldie had actually ended his career in the selection, most recently he had become a father again and therefore hardly trained. Now he was not only in goal as a keeper, but also as a motivator, he kept cheering on the team – and himself. He made a solid seven saves.

Second half:

Köster hurled the balls further into the goal like a catapult, but Steinert and captain Johannes Golla also stood out.

In the end it was even a runaway victory.

It was Köster who received the award for the player of the day.

"Superior defence, superior attack," said Gíslason later.

“We worked like a wall.” And the usual relaxed Icelander said to match winner Köster: “He didn't surprise me.

He does it every day.«

Quote of the game:

"We're worried," said Captain Golla shortly after the final whistle.

And with that, he drew the focus back to the health hazard that emanates from this EM.

Calls and help from Germany:

No official is yet demanding a return of the German handball players and the premature end. But the mood could change in the coming days if other players in the DHB camp become infected. "Then you have to reconsider the positions," said Fox boss Bob Hanning. This point does not seem to have been reached yet, in the evening the DHB announced two further nominations: goalkeeper Daniel Rebmann and left winger Patrick Zieker will join the team on Wednesday.

Outlook:

Strong opponents await in the main round, where the semi-finals are at stake.

The DHB selection will meet Spain on Thursday, followed by Norway, Sweden and Russia.

It is uncertain who is considered the favorite here, the teams change almost every day due to corona cases.

The sporting value of this tournament is enormously diluted.

One thing is also certain: With three victories in the preliminary round, the DHB selection created the ideal conditions to go far in this tournament.

The bigger opponent seems to be Corona at the moment.

The next round of PCR testing awaits the national players on Wednesday.