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Johannes Golla flies to the gate
Photo:
IMAGO/Tilo Wiedensoler / IMAGO/camera4+
Sixth game, first defeat at the World Cup: The German national handball team lost 26:28 to the top team from Norway in their last main round game.
The best German thrower in a gripping game was Juri Knorr with eight goals.
Goalkeeper Torbjørn Bergerud towered over Norway.
The German team had already qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals before the game, and now their opponent in the next round has also been determined: record world champions France are waiting on Wednesday.
Norway are also in the quarter-finals of the finals in Poland and Sweden, where they meet Spain.
The German team had recently shown an excellent performance against the World Cup surprise Netherlands.
Now in the last main round game, Norway, the strongest opponent so far at this World Cup, had been waiting.
The Norwegian selection was runners-up in the world in 2017 and 2019.
The game started energetically, both lines of attack were accurate, Norway had a slight advantage, only being careless with two missed seven meters against goalkeeper Andreas Wolff.
It was 16:18 at the break.
On the German side, Knorr once again showed a strong performance.
After 30 minutes, the 22-year-old playmaker had already scored seven goals.
The hit rate dropped significantly in the second half.
Now the goalkeepers were in top form, Norway's Bergerud was able to excel in a double chance for Johannes Golla and Patrick Groetzki (39th minute) and other scenes.
DHB goalkeeper Wolff also showed strong actions.
It was a balanced game at a high level.
Although both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals, they played with full commitment and to win.
Nine minutes before the end of the game, Germany took the lead for the first time and was 25:24 ahead.
With a majority, Norway turned the game around again and remained focused on the outstanding Bergerud.
Most recently, the DHB selection was world champion in 2007 at the World Cup in their own country.
At the last World Cup in Egypt in 2021, the German team did historically poorly with twelfth place.
Now the German handball players are hoping for a place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Jan