World-class Wolff stands out
Strong DHB team is in the World Cup quarterfinals
01/21/2023 10:01 p.m
One convincing game follows the next: The German national handball team shines at the World Cup and advances to the quarter-finals with an easy win against the Netherlands. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff towers over with amazing saves.
Alfred Gislason almost never stopped smiling. Visibly relaxed, the national handball coach hugged each of his players, especially the outstanding goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. Thanks to Wolff’s saves and the sovereign 33:26 (15:12) win against the Netherlands in the end, the DHB selection is already ahead of the final main round game on Monday (8:30 p.m. / ARD and in the ntv.de live ticker) against those who also qualified Norwegians in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
“We are very, very happy that it went like this today,” said Johannes Golla after the game on ZDF and was happy about an “outstanding defence”. National coach Alfred Gislason found it “extremely nice” to have reached the quarter-finals before the last main round game. “The games are getting harder now, all of which are coming now,” said Gislason with a view to the upcoming opponents.
“Must deliver outstanding performance”
After the last main round game against the strong Norwegians, a real heavyweight awaits in the quarterfinals with Spain or France. “These are two top-class opponents,” said goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. The Spaniards are “a tad weaker than the French”. Gislason saw it similarly, but warned: “The Spaniards are an extremely ripped-off team – almost no matter who comes: we know that we have to put in an outstanding performance.”
Like at times against the Netherlands. In front of around 5,000 spectators in Kattowitz, Poland, the again strong playmaker Juri Knorr was the best thrower of the still undefeated German team with nine goals. “It was clear to me that today I want to give it my all and have fun on the record,” explained Knorr. As so often at this tournament, goalkeeper Wolff also delivered a more than convincing performance and was happy about a “fighting top performance”.
The German team was already challenged by the Dutch, at least in the first round. National coach Alfred Gislason and his players hardly missed an opportunity to warn their opponents before the game. That it would be a completely different game than the 39:19 against the hopelessly overwhelmed Argentinians. You should be right.
Primal Scream also wakes the attack
From the start, an extremely fast-paced and close encounter developed in Katowice. A two-goal lead was initially the highest that the DHB selection could play out. Because the Dutch kept coming back. Only in the second round did Germany pull away.
Driven by their playmaker Luc Steins, the Oranje team kept rolling towards the German defense at a crazy pace. The DHB selection needed a few minutes to adjust to this. Only when Wolff, who was strong again, saved a seven-meter penalty in the eleventh minute, did the German team take the lead for the first time shortly afterwards. And didn’t fall behind after that.
Once again it was the youngest in the team who shaped the game of the DHB selection. The Dutch never got a grip on the 22-year-old Knorr. Similar to Steins, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen professional led his team’s attacks at high speed.
If the Dutch defense formed quickly enough, he always found a breakthrough with his own shots. Or he just converted his seven meters. Knorr was involved in almost every dangerous action of the DHB selection. “We did well in most phases, that’s why we’re up three goals,” said DHB sports director Axel Kromer at the break. After the change of sides, the German team then extended their lead because the Dutch didn’t want to succeed at all in the meantime.
But the enemy never gave up. Because, unlike the German team, he lacked alternatives on the bench, it became clear in the end. But that should be different against Norway.