[ad_1]
Trip home instead of semi-finals: German handball players’ medal dream at MS in Denmark was prematurely shattered on Tuesday (December 15, 2020). National coach Henk Groener’s team failed at 20:23 (12:12) in the main round matchup against Croatia. Instead of moving on to the medal games of a European Championship for the first time in twelve years, a great tournament ended again in disappointment.
“I have no words, congratulations to Croatia,” said dejected captain Kim Naidzinavicius: “You were better than us on all points. You deserved the semifinals more than us. There were very few of us in all areas.”
Nine hits by top German pitcher Julia Maidhof did not help her reach the semi-finals in Kolding, Denmark. The possible match for fifth place was also lost to the selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB), which collapsed mentally and physically immediately after the break. In addition to Croatia, Norway, the record champion of the European Championship still undefeated, qualified as the winner of group II of the main round for the round of last four. A German women’s team last reached the semi-finals of the 2008 European Championship in Macedonia, when they ranked fourth.
Short rest, clear starting position
The DHB team was already defeated by world champions Holland (27:28) just 24 hours before the Croatian match, but thanks to 32:25 against Hungary at the start of the hot phase of the tournament, they had progress in their own hands. . The final prerequisites for the trailer were clarified immediately before the game. With the Netherlands 35:24 against Romania, the DHB women needed a victory by at least two goals difference. Not only did that make the task difficult against the surprise team.
While the DHB team only had one night to breathe between their second and decisive main round match, the Croats have been able to fully prepare for the game with Germany since Sunday.
DHB women initially led
Because the Groener team was defensively stable and initially hit quite safely up front, they initially gained an advantage. During the 4: 2 (9th minute), the DHB women made their way to 7: 5 (14th) and 8: 6 (17th), while Croatia drew (8: 8/19) while Germany was beaten twice in number. ).
“We have to get them out of the loop,” Groener demanded of his team in the first half, and that meant a more flexible approach to the game. There his team succeeded time and time again thanks to the seven-meter sure shooter Maidhof, but very rarely through patient play in attacking position. Maidhof scored half of all German goals on the first leg of the line. But once again the German team did not take advantage of the clearest opportunities.
Almost ten minutes without a hit
The start of the second half completely failed. Germany were behind after almost ten minutes without an own goal 12:17 (39), with seven goals left to advance. When Maidhof first missed his seventh meter, all eyes finally turned downward.
Those: sportschau.de
