In the World Cup quarterfinals against France, the German handball players want to exchange blows at eye level with the title contender in the evening (8.30 p.m. / ZDF) in Gdansk. There have been important and mostly exciting duels between the two nations in the past.
WM 2001
In the quarterfinals, the DHB selection offered the World Cup hosts in Albertville a long stand-up and forced the French into extra time. There, however, the protégés of the then national coach Heiner Brand only managed one goal. France wins the title with 26:23 and later. Thomas Knorr, the father of the celebrated young German star Juri Knorr, who was flown in later during the preliminary round, was also there.
WM 2003
In the semifinals, the German team is four goals behind with a quarter of an hour to go. Thanks to an energy performance, the DHB selection celebrates a 23:22 victory and the first entry into the final since the legendary World Cup triumph in 1978. But the success is paid dearly. Left winger Stefan Kretzschmar breaks the little finger of his throwing hand and is missing in the final, as is backcourt ace Volker Zerbe, who suffers a torn muscle fibre. Without the duo, Germany loses to Croatia and goes home with silver.
WM 2007
The semi-finals of the home World Cup 16 years ago against France can hardly be surpassed in terms of excitement. 32:31 the German team prevails in the end – after two extra hours. During the half-time break, then Federal President Horst Köhler suspected that there would be a happy ending for national coach Heiner Brand’s team in the dramatic game: “We’ll win with a one-goal difference,” said Köhler beforehand and he was right. After a sovereign final victory against Poland, Germany becomes world champion for the third time.
IN 2008
After a narrow semi-final defeat against Denmark, the DHB team is out of breath. In the bronze game it was a bitter 26:36 defeat against the French. The defeat is the beginning of a year-long downturn in German handball. It was only eight years later that the DHB selection returned to the top of the world with the EM triumph.
Olympia 2016
In the semifinals, the DHB selection looks like the clear loser 20 minutes before the end. France leads 22:15, but then the German team comes back. 58 seconds before the end, Tobias Reichmann scores to make it 28:28. The hall rages, but France counters again in the person of Daniel Narcisse, who scores two seconds before the final whistle for victory for the record world champion and destroys German gold hopes. In the end there is at least bronze – the last medal at a major event for the time being.
WM 2019
As in the 2008 European Championship, both teams face each other in the bronze medal match. The last few seconds are running. At the score of 25:25, the German team conquered the ball, which left winger Matthias Musche gave back to the circle with a risky pass. In return, Nikola Karabatic almost hits the final siren. The French cheer, Germany goes away empty-handed at the home World Cup.
Olympia 2021
The last duel so far is in the preliminary round of the Olympic tournament in Tokyo. The DHB selection made a false start and was six goals behind in the first half. But in the second half comes the increase. A good two minutes before the end it is a draw, then the protégés of national coach Alfred Gislason make two mistakes and lose the game 29:30. France later wins gold, the German team is knocked out in the quarter-finals and goes home without the hoped-for medal.
