Two weeks floated to Germany on a cloud of euphoria for Handball, even the Chancellor and the Federal President have admitted to being Fans. However, in the semi-finals. The reasons are pretty mundane.
Uwe Gensheimer’s just sitting there. The captain of the German national Handball team has tilted the head down, sweat dripping from his soaking wet hair on the blue floor. On a few seconds before the final siren sounded, Germany in the world Cup semi-finals failed. In the other half of the Norwegians, dancing in a circle and sing and celebrate. Gensheimer does not seem to stand the sight. Coaches and teammates Pat him on the shoulder, but he does not respond, needs this Moment. Slowly, he rises, turns in the mandatory number of teams, and staring at more impassive. “We’re in the shit,” he says later, pretty honest to the ARD-in microphone. To him, it was not, however, that Germany’s dream of Gold in the case of the home burst in the world Cup. And, a fortiori, not to the audience, celebrating even after the clear 25:31 (12:14)-Broke, sings and claps.
Review: before the initiation can be understood in the Hamburg Arena, hardly his own word. The 12,500 spectators want to be inferior to the good of 19,000 in Cologne, in Terms of volume. With Uwe Gensheimer, Fabian Wiede and Hendrik Pekeler meet the three first German thrower, sitting in the early Phase of the game is hardly more someone. Germany caught the better Start, leading with 3:1 – also because Keeper Andreas Wolff from the beginning, strong reflexes. But Norway replied, as you had to expect it: With a fast pace against bumps and much vehemence from the back room after eight minutes, it is suddenly 3:4. This is also helped by the re-completion of weakness, after the good Start in the German Team wide.
Gensheimer accepts responsibility
In this Situation, the Top-Star responsibility: Uwe gensheimer takes hits from the seven meter point, and from the Outside, compared to the Croatia game improves and brings Germany back with 6:5 in the guide (15. Minute). The left is estimated at 500,000 euros annual earnings in the case of the Handball division of Paris Saint-Germain to the top earners in the German Team and something like the soul of this team. He is usually on the edge, but is still present and the impeller of his teammates. In spite of hock, saying “in the ass”, sails the 32-Year-old against Norway irresistibly through the air. However, it was not his time to go to the circle to stabilize the German Offensive. Clearly a lot of Attempts to land in the hands of the opponent. After 22 minutes Norway leads the way with two goals (11:9).
The audience knows that in this Sport no fracture of the leg. The mood is fine, until the referees show in a matter of seconds with Gensheimer and Pekeler, two German, with time penalties. The reaction: a braying chorus of whistles in addition to and furious German attacks on the field. Since Norway shortly met two time, Germany can reduce the residue to the half with two goals (12:14).
Lack of efficiency in front of goal
The earned Norwegian leadership changes after the first, nothing, because the team of coach Christian Berge more confident, worldly-wise and more efficient plays. Almost 65 per cent of the Norwegian attacks are successful, the German Team to 51 percent. Neither the game moves to sit, still working the fast game. Especially in the completion of the precision is missing, again and again. The result is that Norway is even four goals advantage (16:20, 38.). The Team of Christian Prokop will start led by Gensheimer, a race to catch up, which is, however, interrupted again and again by small to dubious referee decisions – and, unfortunately, by their own lapses of Concentration.
Nevertheless, hope a good three minutes before the end, as Fabian Wiede shortened with a goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter launched fast break in 25:27. However, Norway’s Superstar Sander Sagosen answers dry from half-left Position with the 28. Results for Norway – the preliminary decision. All of a sudden, the entire voltage drops, the DHB Team can hang on and conceded three more goals. The dream is long since burst. “We have not found any solutions in the back, and then have taken the uncertainty in the attack,” analyzes Prokop after the game, clear as resigned. “To me, something was missing the guts out of the back room.” His players don’t try to talk the defeat of nice. “We are disappointed that we didn’t get to the finals. Norway was just a Tick better,” says Jannik Kohlbacher, the takes still something Positive. “Thanks to Handball-Germany. You have supported us in every game, it was fascinating, I got every Time goose bumps.” In this sense, the German handball players now take it in the small final On Sunday in Herning against France for the Bronze medal and a worthy end to a good two weeks Handball-euphoria in Germany.