Strong goalkeeper! DHB team puts in quarterfinals as third - medal hunting

Mandatory and booked the ticket for medal hunting: Germany's handball players have reached the Olympic quarter-finals against Brazil 29:25 (16:12) victory against Brazil and may continue to hope for precious metal. Thanks to the ultimately safe success on Sunday in Tokyo, in which Steffen Weinhold and Juri Knorr with six goals were best German throwers, the DHB selection ended the preliminary round group A with 6: 4 points as third parties. The opponent in the K.O. Round next Tuesday will not be determined afterwards. Possible rivals are world champions Denmark, the World Cup Second Sweden and Egypt.

In the initial phase, the pressure is felt

After the victory of the EM-Third Norway against record world champion France right before was clear at the kick-off: there is a final for the German team who had to compete home journey at a defeat. The pressure was quite felt, because the DHB team acted for a long time in the first half and was late his rhythm. The defense was missing the usual stability in this phase and many opportunities were awarded in the attack.

Overall, the European Championship fifth was heavy against battle-strong Brazilians and could not build on the strong performance at 28:23 against Norway two days before. Again and again there were slight ball losses that were mostly punished by the South Americans immediately. Even a serious injury to Torwart Leonardo Val Tercariol, who already turned after a quarter of an hour, put the opponent relatively unimpressed away.

Bitter comes to operating temperature

After 20 minutes, Germany was 7: 9 behind. National coach Alfred Gislason reacted with a first time out. "Hey guys, we make too many mistakes and need to play more concentrated," the 61-year Icelland fired his protégés. The clear words did not miss their effect, especially since Torwart Johannes Bitter slowly came to operating temperature and caused Olympic-debutant Knorr in the back space for fresh wind.

Three minutes before the pause, a lead succeeded in the first time at 13:12, which was expanded to four goals until half time. "We are doing hard," DHB sports board Axel Kromer set in halftime. After the change, the German team quickly led to seven goals, but the Brazilians did not open and continue bravely. In the final phase Schmolz the lead again, but the lackluster victory was no longer in danger.