Germany’s handball national team faced a tough defeat against Denmark in their first main round match of the World Cup, losing 30:40. Despite allowing a record number of first-half goals, they remain hopeful for quarter-final advancement. Coach Gislason emphasized the need for defensive improvements, and with key upcoming matches against Italy and Tunisia, Germany aims to control their fate in the tournament. Denmark currently leads the group, while Germany sits in a competitive position for progression.
First Main Round Match Setback for Germany
The German handball national team faced a challenging start in the World Cup, suffering a defeat in their opening main round match against the strong title contenders, Denmark. This encounter marked a historic moment, as the DHB team allowed an unprecedented number of goals in the first half, yet they still hold a promising chance of advancing to the quarter-finals.
Defensive Struggles and a Hopeful Outlook
In the heated atmosphere of Herning, Germany’s players, under the guidance of coach Alfred Gislason, fell to defending champions Denmark with a score of 30:40 (18:24). This match mirrored their previous encounter in France, where they lost 26:39 to the Olympic champions. Germany’s defense struggled to contain the Danish offensive led by world-renowned player Mathias Gidsel, who netted ten goals. Julian Köster and Tim Kastening shone for the Germans, each contributing six goals in front of a lively crowd of 15,000 at the Jyske Bank Boxen.
A silver lining for the DHB team is that they still control their fate in the tournament. A win against the surprising Italian team on Thursday (6 PM) could set them up for success, and a subsequent victory against Tunisia on Saturday (8:30 PM) would guarantee their place in the quarter-finals.
Currently, Denmark leads the main round group 1 with a perfect 6:0 points, followed by Germany and Italy (both at 4:2). Switzerland sits at fourth with 3:3 points, while the Czech Republic (1:5) and Tunisia (0:6) are unlikely to advance. Only the top two teams from this six-team group will secure a spot in the quarter-finals in Oslo.
Gislason noted the team’s focus on improvement, stating, “We have thoroughly analyzed the last two games against Denmark and what went wrong. Each player is committed to performing better.” This was evident as he made strategic changes to the lineup, including starting goalkeeper David Späth, who made an impressive save early in the game.
Initially, Germany played boldly and kept the match competitive. However, after a brief scoring run led by Uscins, Denmark surged ahead, capitalizing on their momentum. Gidsel’s goals pushed the lead to 12:7, but Germany managed to stabilize the score by halftime. Despite this, the defensive challenges persisted. As left-hander Christoph Steinert pointed out, “We need to support our goalkeepers more effectively.” DHB manager Benjamin Chatton emphasized resilience, stating, “Giving up is not an option.”
The German team came out stronger in the second half, aided by Wolff’s saves, narrowing the gap to 25:30. However, Denmark responded by ramping up their pace, clinching the match with a ten-goal margin, leaving Germany with valuable lessons to carry forward into their upcoming matches.