Knorr sees purple towers, Wolff: DHB group will get off to a great begin

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Knorr sees purple towers, Wolff: DHB group will get off to a great begin

July 27, 2024, 8:38 p.m

The German nationwide handball group offers the primary shock sign of the Olympic event: Sweden has been defeated in a wild struggle, regardless of the early purple mortgage towards the performer Juri Knorr. The goalkeepers of each groups play brilliantly at occasions.

Panic indicators towards the fearsome opponent: the German handball gamers brought on a bang firstly of their Olympic mission. Nationwide coach Alfred Gislason’s group beat Sweden, third place within the European Championship, regardless of an early purple card towards playmaker Juri Knorr 30:27 (12:11) they usually progressed solely to the quarter-finals.

The assure for the vital victory was the robust German protection across the goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who grew to become the person of the night with a number of saves within the Enviornment Süd 6. Renars Uscins stood out as probably the most German shooters favorites with eight objectives and captain Johannes Golla with 5 objectives in entrance of 5,765 spectators. The final time they gained towards the Swedes was on the 2016 Olympic Video games in Rio. At the moment the rating within the opening recreation was 32:29 – ultimately it was DHB’s final Olympic bronze medal up to now. “It is good that we lastly beat a giant man. The group did an amazing job over 60 minutes and performed very persistently,” mentioned Wolff after the dream begin.

In the meantime, two private particulars left a bitter style. After a great quarter of an hour, Knorr was proven a purple card for foul play (sixteenth) and was unable to intervene from then on. Tim Hornke additionally injured his left leg within the first half. Additional investigations within the Olympic Village will decide if and when the right participant can return to the group.

Consider in your individual power

The opposite opponents within the powerful opening group A are Japan on Monday (9am/ARD), Croatia (Wednesday/11am), third-placed Spain (Friday/4pm) and Slovenia (August 4/2pm). The highest 4 groups will advance to the knockout rounds. “We’ve got a younger, hungry group that has nice expertise, however already has the standard to beat the most important,” Gislason mentioned earlier than the sport. France, Hungary and the opponents of the preliminary spherical Japan extra self-confidence for the German group.

This perception in his personal power was clearly evident at first. Though clear possibilities had been missed many times, the German group, with 9 Olympic starters, remained variable in assault and thus as soon as once more brought on confusion within the Swedish protection . However their level piece put the DHB seven on the again: the protection hardly let something occur, and if one thing did undergo, there was nonetheless Wolff, who alone made eight saves earlier than the break.

Gislason indignant at a missed alternative

However Knorr appeared within the first half. He had already scored two objectives earlier than by chance catching Albin Lagergren within the face throughout a defensive transfer together with his hand. “It is bitter, in fact, it hits him within the face, however conditions like this occur on a regular basis in a recreation,” mentioned the 2007 world champion Pascal Hens at Eurosport’s microphone. Within the second phase, got here the capturing requirements of each groups improved and the change of high-level pictures was improved. The Swedish group, along with the Bundesliga gamers from SC Magdeburg, struggled. When Germany might to have pulled inside three objectives once more, the group misplaced the ball once more.Gislason was on the sidelines concerning the missed alternative.

Nevertheless, not like many video games prior to now, the DHB group didn’t permit themselves an actual second of weak point. Additionally as a result of Wolff was standing like a wall within the objective. Round twelve minutes earlier than the tip of the sport, Christoph Steinert gave the primary three-goal lead, and shortly after it was 4 objectives after the Swede misplaced the ball. That needs to be sufficient.