Germany's handball team has beaten defending champions France 38:34 to advance to the European Championship semifinals. Juri Knorr starred with ten goals in 18 minutes. In the quarterfinals, Germany faces Croatia on Friday.
In Herning, Denmark, before 10,850 spectators, the DHB team converted their second matchball and defeated France convincingly 38:34 (19:15). The win secures a semifinal spot against Croatia on Friday at 17:45 live on ARD. The other semifinal features Denmark and Iceland at 20:30.
Juri Knorr, Aalborg Handbold's playmaker, had previously doubted his EM form but exploded against France: ten goals in 18 minutes, including six in the first half without turnovers. He was named "Player of the Match." His duel with France's Dika Mem, who scored eleven goals, defined the game. Germany's offense achieved 76 percent efficiency in the first half with just two ball losses; the defense held firm except against Mem.
Coach Alfred Gislason praised the "phenomenal performance": "He put himself under a lot of pressure. Today he played the best game I've ever seen from him against a nation like that." Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff started the first half, David Späth the second; Tom Kiesler was absent due to stomach flu.
The dream of EM gold, ten years after Krakau 2016, lives on. Germany started strong, leading 4:2 after six minutes and 19:15 at halftime—their best half of the tournament. After the break, the lead shrank to one goal, but in the final minutes, Lukas Zerbe, Julian Köster, and Renars Uscins scored crucially (36:32, 37:34), Wolff saved, ending 38:34.
Gislason was "extremely proud" of the team, which excelled in all areas. Knorr felt like he was in a "bad dime novel," so straightforward was the plot of his success.
