Germany has won a test match for the European Championship in Croatia against Iceland in the Stuttgart Porsche Arena, sold out with 6,211 spectators, 36:29 (19:12). Before on 13. January the opening match in Zagreb against Montenegro rises 17.15 o’ clock in the LIVETICKER), it gets the team of national coach Christian Prokop on Sunday in Neu-Ulm (14 o’ clock) to do it again with Iceland.
In Stuttgart, the DHB selection got off to a bad start. The defence lacked aggressiveness, so Iceland scored easy goals, scored 8-6 after eleven minutes and Prokop took his first break.
The words of the federal coach were effective. From now on, the Bad Boys grabbed more energetically, whereby Maximilian Janke from Leipzig, who just a few days ago had joined the team for the injured Niclas Pieczkowski, made a very good impression in the middle block in his first international. After a 13:4 run, the DHB team, which was now also attacking at a higher speed, went into the cabin with a clear 19:12 lead.
With the start of the second half, Silvio Heinevetter moved for Andreas Wolff between the posts. In contrast to Wolff, who increased after initial difficulties, the Berliner was good from the first second on and showed several strong parades.
The German team, with the exception of Marian Michalczik, had the game under control in the second round as well, and the victory was never in danger at any time. There was only some excitement in the 42nd minute. In the third minute, Steffen Weinhold hit Aron Palmarsson in the face with his hand and saw the red card.
Initial formation DHB: Wolff – Gensheimer, Kühn, Weber, Weinhold, Reichmann, Pekeler
Goal scorers Germany: Gensheimer (7 – 5 of 6 7-metres), Kühn (6), Fäth, Häfner, Wiede (all 3), Reichmann, Pekeler, Weber, Kohlbacher, Drux, Wiencek (all 2), Weinhold, Heinevetter (all 1)
Scorers Iceland: Gudmundsson (7), Sigurdsson (5 – 0 of 1 seven-metre), Palmarsson (5), Arnarsson (4), Gunnarsson (4 – 1 of 2 seven-metre), Hallgrimsson (2), Magnusson, Smarson (both 1)
With his acceptance after 20 minutes, much more offensive power came into the German game. The backroom player from Hanover scored “only” three goals, but with several outstanding passes he provided an absolute highlight. In the last 20 minutes Häfner was not used anymore.
Iceland’s circuit runner caught a used day. Kristjansson was not only in conclusion completely harmless. At no time did he understand how to make gaps for his fellow players.
Christian Prokop (federal coach):”We didn’t get access for the first eleven minutes. After the initial sleepiness we played more aggressively and were able to break away. All in all, this was a very good test for us. I particularly liked the fact that we acted relatively consistently at a very high level in the attack.”
Geir Sveinsson (Trainer Island):”I congratulate Germany on a deserved victory. We can be satisfied with the first ten or 20 minutes. Otherwise, we have not managed to stop the German attack. Germany did very well.”