liveblog
If the DHB team wins against North Macedonia at the European Handball Championship today, they will be guaranteed a place in the main round. All updates about the game here in the live blog.
8:12 p.m
German handball players without Häfner against North Macedonia
Backcourt player Kai Häfner, who became a father for the second time on Friday, is not in the squad for the game against North Macedonia. U21 world champion Nils Lichtlein is joining the team to replace him. The game is available in the ZDF live stream here.
7:58 p.m
Felix Kroos “very optimistic” for the game
Berlin’s tournament ambassador and ex-football professional Felix Kroos appears “very optimistic” for a German victory at the hall speaker’s microphone, praises Berlin as a sports metropolis and hopes for an outstanding atmosphere right away. But honestly, what else can he say?
7:45 p.m
The warm-up begins
Even though the main stand in the arena is almost empty, the German team is loudly cheered when they enter the field for the first time. Jannik Kohlbacher initially makes Christoph Steinert, who is standing in goal, look bad when he throws the ball in, but Steinert has the upper hand on the next attempt. Crazy, the tension!
7:37 p.m
“Jump Schwiiz!”
During a tour, the battle cry of the Swiss resounds through the Berlin arena – and that inspires the team. The Swiss turned the duel against France into a home game and surprisingly achieved a 26:26 draw. This is a setback for France, but it could have been even worse. In the last possession of the game, Switzerland failed to score.
7:05 p.m
Before kick-off: What will be exchanged this time?
At the European Handball Championships, players from both teams exchange small objects before the throw-off – what are they actually throwing up? We asked the German handball players for the Sportschau’s Instagram channel: Germany is handing out pins with the DHB logo – the Swiss gave us cookies on Wednesday. What will North Macedonia bring with it?
6:33 p.m
Hanne before North Macedonia game: “We’re on fire”
You can put it this simply: “We’re on fire,” says Martin Hanne before the upcoming second group game against North Macedonia. After all, the German handball players want to light a fire, like they did on Wednesday. And hopefully the spark will also spread to the Berlin hall. Okay, end of puns.
5:48 p.m
Swiss fans in the majority
Shortly before the game between Switzerland and France in the “German” Group A, the hall announcer tested the mood in the Berlin arena, which is currently a good two-thirds full. The result: The Swiss fans clearly outnumber the French. Of course, you can already see German fan clothing, but so far the red of the Swiss has dominated. You can follow the game in the live ticker or in the live stream on ZDF.
Watch Switzerland vs France live now arrow right
4:33 p.m
Lazarov praises German defense
North Macedonia’s coach Kiril Lazarov sees the German handball players on the same level as France. “Maybe not individually, but as a collective team they are equally good, they have proven their strength,” said the 43-year-old, referring to Germany’s opening victory. “They had an incredible defense, a great goalkeeper and we know it will be very difficult to beat them.”
The team of the former world-class player, who has been national coach since 2021, lost a little too clearly 29:39 against the French. “To win, we have to play our best handball – but not just over 40 minutes like against France, but over 60 minutes.”
Michael Dietz / Daniel Neuhaus, Sportschau, January 14, 2024 3:35 p.m
3:24 p.m
Reunion with ex-national player Althaus
From the perspective of the German Handball Association (DHB), the encounter with North Macedonia is also a reunion with a former German national player: Anja Althaus made 243 international matches as a runner, only three women played more often for the DHB. The native of Magdeburg, who won the Champions League twice with Viborg, spent three years of her career in North Macedonia’s capital with Vardar Skopje. Today the 41-year-old is the media manager of the Macedonian national team.
2:34 p.m
German handball players are feeling the hype
The world record game in Düsseldorf, the full halls on the first match days all over Germany and the sensational stories like the one from the Faroe Islands yesterday are sending more and more people into handball fever.
The German national players experience this firsthand: DHB high-flyer Martin Hanne, who has not yet been one of the best-known faces in the sport, reported selfie requests during a walk to the drugstore in Berlin. “The walk wasn’t long and yet three or four groups came towards us,” said Hanne. The euphoria, says the youngster, “is really crazy.”
He now has a blue tick on Instagram that verifies his account – profiles of celebrities are usually marked with this. The backcourt player from Hannover-Burgdorf was the surprise in the German squad and only played his first international match ten days ago. From debutant to Instagram celebrity…
12:59 p.m
Activation before the game is underway
Cycling, coordination exercises, stretching, short starts – the DHB team is preparing in the hotel in the morning for the game this evening in the Berlin Arena.
12:10 p.m
Germany against North Macedonia in the full audio report
The game between Germany and North Macedonia will of course be featured again in the live radio report. Together with ARD expert Dominik Klein, Thomas Koos and Thorsten vomwege will comment on the second preliminary round game from 8:30 p.m.
Sportschau, January 14, 2024 8:29 p.m
11:39 am
“Eagle fly” – handball players borrow the ski jumping battle cry
“Eagle fly” is the new battle cry of German handball players in the motivational circle. In any case, goalkeeper Andreas Wolff “borrowed” the saying from the German ski jumpers, who originally used this formula for themselves. Is there now a dispute between the ski jumpers and handball players? At least there is already half-serious irritation from the ski jumping camp – Germany’s left winger Rune Dahmke is therefore announcing a friendly exchange as a precaution.
Thorsten vom Wegen, Sportschau, January 14, 2024 10:53 a.m
10:25 a.m
North Macedonia in front of our eyes, France in the back of our minds
Of course, the national coach wants to think from game to game, which he emphasized on Saturday evening in the sports show. “The opening game was important, but it’s worth nothing if we don’t win against North Macedonia,” said Gislason. When asked about the further course of the tournament, the Icelander also spoke about the game on Tuesday against record world champions France. “One of the big favorites is coming our way. We have to play one of our best games in recent years in order to take the points. That would of course be a dream, but first we should concentrate on tomorrow’s task.”
8:57 a.m
North Macedonia’s special tactics
The Macedonians don’t have great individualists, but they do have a lot of tactical options. Against France, North Macedonia repeatedly switched between several defensive systems. And on offense, coach Kiril Lazarov’s team relies on an additional seventh field player who is brought onto the field in favor of the goalkeeper. These are of course special challenges for the Germans.
8:31 a.m
Handball players expect “vocal support” from the Federal Chancellor
Germany’s handball players are relying on the help of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the European Championship game against North Macedonia. “We have a clear expectation that the Chancellor will support the team loudly. Because that’s what all the fans who come into the hall do,” said DHB sports director Axel Kromer with a smile before the game this Sunday
Jan 13, 2024 • 9:48 p.m
A pair of brothers from Portugal referee the game
The European Handball Federation (EHF) also announced the referee appointments on Saturday evening. The brothers Daniel Accoto Martins and Roberto Accoto Martins from Portugal will referee the game between Germany and North Macedonia.
Jan 13, 2024 • 8:01 p.m
Gislason doesn’t want to overestimate the Switzerland game
The Icelander also commented on the exhilarating opening victory on Wednesday in front of the world record crowd in Düsseldorf in the sports show – as usual sober and calm. “We didn’t play outstanding handball, we played well, nothing more,” said Gislason in an interview with Esther Sedlaczek and directly mentioned something he didn’t like: “We made a lot of mistakes in the majority.”
Jan 13, 2024 • 6:16 p.m
Alfred Gislason: “North Macedonia is a dangerous opponent”
National coach Alfred Gislason warns against the North Macedonian team in an interview with Sportschau. “It’s a dangerous opponent,” said the 64-year-old on Saturday evening. “They have a very young team, like us. It’s a technically very good team that plays very emotionally.”
Daniel Neuhaus, sports show, January 14, 2024 10:38 a.m
Gislason particularly emphasizes the variability. “Against the French, they constantly switched between three different defensive systems. We have to deal with that, find our line quickly and not let ourselves get annoyed.”
Jan 13, 2024 • 4:23 p.m
Martin Hanne: “Häfner can play dad for us again”
Kai Häfner, who has recently become a father, is currently not with the team and may not be there against North Macedonia. His teammates are all very happy about their parents’ happiness and the fact that all family members are apparently healthy. The younger teammates in particular want the oldest player in the squad to return soon: “Then he can play dad for us again,” explains Martin Hanne on the ARD microphone. At 22, the Hannover-Burgdorf backcourt player is one of the youngest in the team.
January 13, 2024 • 3:15 p.m
North Macedonia lost the opener against France
North Macedonia needs a win against Germany to avoid an early exit. There was a clear 29:39 (13:17) defeat against France on Wednesday. The best thrower for the Macedonians was circle runner Žarko Peševski, who played for TVB Stuttgart in the handball Bundesliga for three years.
Jan 13, 2024 • 2:44 p.m
A German victory will probably secure the main round
After the confident opening victory over Switzerland, the DHB team has good chances of making it into the main round. However, a defeat against North Macedonia would be fatal. Only the first two teams in the preliminary round advance and then the German team would probably have to score points in the third group game against top favorites France in order to avert elimination in the preliminary round. The other way around: A win against North Macedonia would secure the main round, provided Switzerland doesn’t pull off a sensation against France early on Sunday evening.
January 13, 2024 • 2:00 p.m
Arena in Berlin will also be sold out
The Germans will play their remaining two preliminary round games in Berlin – the arena can accommodate 13,500 fans. A sold-out hall is expected both on Sunday against North Macedonia (here from 8:25 p.m. in the live radio report) and on Tuesday against France (live on Erste, in the stream and also in the live radio report).
Jan 13, 2024 • 9:50 am
Training on Saturday: Journalists in front of a closed arena
A training and media event is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday. It’s just stupid: the arena’s security forces aren’t scheduled to arrive until 10 a.m. sharp, so some journalists are standing in front of closed doors – in freezing temperatures. Only Andreas Wolff recently let less through against Switzerland.