| Handball News |
Handball News  (20/01/2008) World champions fall to Spain |
The Iberians are back on track after a 30:22 victory against Germany.
Germany 22:30 Spain (12:12)
What a difference! The Spanish team showed an outstanding performance against Germany that completely failed in the second halftime. Both teams have qualified for the Main Round in Trondheim – and take 2:2 points with them.
It was a typical duel between the reigning world champion Germany and the previous title holder Spain. When these two teams meet, tension is guaranteed. It was a physical, tough match with two outstanding goalkeepers, Jose Hombrados and Henning Fritz, and also of two strong defences.
Both sides fought for every ball and every inch in the hall. Germany started better and took a 8:5 lead. Four goals of this were scored by pivot Andrej Klimovets. But Spain that lost surprisingly against Hungary came back very quickly.
The German backcourt players, especially Pascal Hens and Christian Zeitz, did not have their best days. The Iberians, led by Hombrados and right winger Albert Rocas, turned the page and went ahead with a 12:10 score in the 27th minute. But the German right winger Florian Kehrmann equalised one minute before the halftime whistle.
In the Spanish team that showed their best performance of the whole tournament so far, Iker Romero returned on court – but only for seven meters. At the match against Belarus, the backcourt player was resting for the decisive match against Germany.
And the Iberians did not need Romero after the break either, as those who were on court ran over Germany. The defence formed a wall and nearly all the balls that passed this wall were stopped by Jose Hombrados. Whenever the Spanish had the balls, they went on fastbreaks.
The German attack lost their power and the world champion needed 16 minutes in the second half to score their third goal – at this point Spain were leading 22:15. None of the German spectators felt that their team would be able to turn the match because Spain played well, especially with the fastbreaks of Juan Garcia.
Garcia was the best Spanish scorer with eight goals in the second half. Spain gained more self-confidence and Germany (best scorers were Glandorf, Klimowets and Kehrmann with four goals each) lost the rhythm completely.
The world champions will surely have to improve for the Main Round to win the title. Spain – in contrast – are now back in the competition and have shown that they can beat any team, if they play concentrated.
Comments after the game:
Juan Carlos Pastor (coach, Spain):
“For us it was a life or death matter. We had to win to have a chance. We won the match in defence and also our counter attacks were great. Now everything is going alright for us.”
Heiner Brand (coach, Germany):
“Spain was the well deserved winner of this match. We lost the match due to our very poor and weak performance in offence in the second halftime. But looking to the Main Round, nothing changed for us. We have to win all the matches now and improve in attack."
Roberto Garcia (Spain):
“After a close first halftime our defence and our goalkeeper Jose Hombrados improved and decided the match. Eight goals are a big difference against the world champions." |
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