Victory in the first main game: The German handball team win thanks to a strong defensive performance and a loud audience scores against Iceland and remain still unbeaten.
Main about successful start, the semi-finals in their sights: The German handball players have made at the home world Cup thanks to their defensive ramparts with a strong goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, the next step towards a medal. The still undefeated team of the national coach Christian Prokop defeated Iceland in the witch of Cologne arena with 24:19 (14:10) and took over with 5:1 points in the standings in the group 1. The best throwers in the selection of the German handball Federation (DHB) in front of 19,250 enthusiastic spectators Steffen Fäth with six goals, was captain Uwe Gensheimer scored five goals. On Monday (20.30 CET) hits the DHB-Team in the duel of the Ex-champion of Croatia (4:0). At the conclusion of the main round of champion of Spain (20.30 CET) waiting on Wednesday Europe.
Emotional Mid-Term
Prokop, took a few hours before the encounter, his first of three possible staffing Change. European champion Kai Häfner advanced for the Leipzig world Cup debutants Franz Semper in the array. Steffen Weinhold returned to his in the France game suffered adductor strain, at least in the squad. Under the eyes of football icon, Joachim Deckarm, the his 65. Birthday celebrated together with the masters ‘ 78-world, and visibly moved the Serenade in the half-time break, listened to, were the hosts in their “living room” shiny into the game. Faeth pounded the Ball to the 5:2 in the angle (7.Minute).
Best Pitcher: Steffen Faeth
After that, some errors crept into the game of the host. Face-offs not found their teammates good scoring chances remained unused. In the attack, the DHB selection was difficult. The Ex-Kiel’s Aron Palmarsson met for the first lead of the guests (6:5/13.). Prokop responded immediately and took a break. “We have to stay with us and not allow ourselves to be crazy,” asked the coach. His players listened well. The inner block by Patrick Wiencek and Hendrik Pekeler was almost insurmountable, and the resulting ball gains of the three-time world champion took advantage of again and again to light gates.
A Strong Captain
The DHB-Team won out by 9:9 (22.) on 13:9 (27.) the Arena was cooking. Characteristic for the German game of hits to the intermediate time of 12:9: Paul Drux was won with a pike jump the Ball, Patrick Groetzki see the led value to Gensheimer, the ice age ended. “In some situations, we can be a little more alert. We play it well. If we continue, we will win the game one hundred percent”, said team Manager Oliver Roggisch in the half-time break, while Ex-national coach Heiner Brand of Germany in the winter’s tale in 2007 for the world title had passed, impressed by the “sensational mood”.
The strong Icelanders did not give up but also without Palmarsson, the beat is approximately 20 minutes from the field. The Olympic Second of 2008 shortened to 16:18 (41.). However, a held of seven meters of Wolff and Fäths hit at 20:16, the DHB-selection brought back on course. A hell of a parade clapped Wolff, holding twelve balls, and in the final phase, with a small Fan behind his goal. The black-and-red-Golden Party in the Arena had already begun.
sw/cc (sid, dpa)