such A game had been imagined a few weeks ago, hardly anyone: That the German team would be in place before the last main round game and qualified for the semifinals, would have been before the start of the world Cup is a pretty daring bet. On Wednesday evening, the duel with Spain, the European champion was, in this respect, but actually meaningless. It was still a question of whether the German would travel as a group of first or -second to Hamburg. But this was answered with a 20:23 defeat to the also already for the semi-finals qualified French in the early evening against Croatia in handy.

Handball-world Cup in 2019, All of the games at a Glance

Christian Kamp

sports editor.

F. A. Z.

Just a defeat with eight or more goals difference would have cost the group a victory. But in this danger, the team of Christian Prokop was never. After rather a slow start they played and the audience in the mood, and after the 31:30 state final: It’s as group winners and unbeaten to Hamburg, where the Germans meet on Friday in Norway (20.30 imF.A.Z.-Live scores for basketball-WMund in the ARD). In the second semi-final, also in Hamburg, then France and Denmark (17.30). “It was a great experience for us, not having any means to win,” said Prokop. “The boys wanted to say goodbye with a good feeling. We wanted to travel with the wind from the back to Hamburg.“

The Norwegians. In the ranks of the Star of this world Cup, Sander Sagosen, a team-mate of Uwe gensheimer, the Paris Saint-Germain. To Magnus Jöndal of the SG Flensburg-Handewitt stands out from the wide occupied squad left outside. Exciting will be what coach Christian Berge is come, he is regarded worldwide as a particularly interesting figure in this role. Whether the is a wish your opponents? In the run-up to votes were to be heard in the Team, the preferred to a home semi-final against the Danes, instead of having it – possibly – in Herning in the final on Sunday to do with them. Procopius, however, had rejected this kind of mind games: The semi-final itself was not important, the opponent.

the game plan of the Handball world championship 2019 in Germany and Denmark

“Norway is a team that plays on a top level. But we can increase them as well“, said team Manager Oliver Roggisch after the victory over Spain. On Monday evening, the team was once warm and full of atmosphere from Cologne adopted. With the large German party, it could be atmospheric now, however, over. In Hamburg, it will not be only 6500 spectators less than in Cologne, Bob Hanning is also expected to bring a more diverse audience. Every German Fan there “for two or three roar, the volume to get it back,” said the Vice-President of the German handball Federation.

Sporty had promised the coach of Procopius, although a dedicated farewell from Cologne, but also announced that he wanted to distribute the “forces of good”. New Tim Suton, the 22-year-old man from the TBV Lemgo was, he was Deputy for the injured playmaker Martin Strobel. The task assumed, but once Paul Drux, who brought in the comparison to Strobel is a Plus to throw violence, but also a Minus in a strategic class. In addition, Finn Lemke started instead of Hendrik Pekeler in the middle block.

It was quick to see that it went one hundred percent to the cause. Although the German Team a 3:1 lead gained, but a lot of small lapses of Concentration were reflected in the result. In the front a couple of casts, not sat, in the back of the gaps were in the coverage, and goalkeeper Wolff really got to take much, so that Spain had quickly pulled back to and. By the end of the first half, no Team with more than one goal should be to escape.