Distorted anthem – or fake?
Music glitch during DHB game causes irritation
January 18, 2024, 11:07 p.m
The Icelandic players look at each other confused. There was something wrong when their anthem was supposed to be played before the game against European Championship hosts Germany. A technical problem with the laptop is said to have been the reason. The national coach has a different opinion.
Music breakdown before the European Championship main round game for German handball players in Cologne: The organizers made a mistake when playing the Icelandic national anthem and a repetition was necessary. Due to a technical problem, the anthem was initially stuttering and, according to the organizers, the laptop had stopped. The Icelandic players looked very irritated, and the away fans reacted by whistling.
“That was a wrong national anthem. No Icelander recognized what it was. It wasn’t the Icelandic one,” said national coach Alfred Gislason, himself an Icelander, at the press conference late in the evening. After a pause of about a minute, the piece of music was finally played over the speakers. The game started slightly late.
“We apologize to the Icelandic team,” said the hall spokesman. The 19,750 spectators in the Lanxess Arena bridged the interruption with rhythmic clapping and chants of “Iceland, Iceland.”
Of course, the glitch had no impact on the game. Led by the outstanding goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, the German team defeated Iceland 26:24 (11:10) and set course for the medal games. The German team now has 2:2 points in main round group I. The outstanding man of the evening was Wolff, who ripped the enthusiastic fans from their seats with his parades. Playmaker Juri Knorr also became the best German thrower in the fourth game of the tournament with six goals.
Two days after the only defeat of the tournament so far against France (30:33), the German team was only convincing defensively. The Icelanders, who are still pointless, kept biting their teeth against the German defensive bulwark around captain Johannes Golla and Cologne’s Julian Köster.