Unleashed Wolff hexes DHB men to their biggest hit since 2016
The German handball team is playing for the gold medal at the Olympic Games. In a dramatic semifinal, the DHB team defeats Spain. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff stands out in the 25:24 victory. This is the biggest success since the bronze medal in 2016.
The Hexer delivered: Germany's handballers are reaching for historic Olympic gold thanks to their outstanding goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. The German team defeated the World Cup third-place Spain in the semifinal in Lille 25:24 (12:12) and is in an Olympic final for the first time since 2004.
In front of around 20,000 spectators on Friday, Wolff put on a brilliant performance. Whether with his arm, leg at head height, or shoulder: with crazy 22 saves and a percentage that was long over 50, the keeper drove the Spanish shooters to despair - and paved the way to the final. Once again, the best German scorer was quarterfinal hero Renars Uscins, who scored all six of his goals in the second half.
The next thriller
In the final on Sunday (13:30 CET/ZDF, Eurosport, and in the live ticker on ntv.de), the young German team of coach Alfred Gislason can now make history: against World Cup winner Denmark or Slovenia, who face each other in the second semifinal, it's about the first overall German Olympic gold, the first gold since the legendary GDR triumph in 1980.
"Everyone is very much looking forward to this semifinal against Spain," Gislason said before the game. But just like in the preliminary round victory (33:31) against the Spaniards and the epic triumph against France in the quarterfinal (35:34 after extra time), one would have to "deliver another big game."
The DHB selection took the words of their coach to heart and laid down a nearly perfect start. Above all, Wolff, who with eleven saves in the first half even evoked memories of his gala performance in the 2016 European Championship final (also against Spain). For six minutes, Germany initially did not concede a goal, with Wolff already having saved six balls at a score of 6:3 (10).
Dramatic finish
Even the brief Spanish interim high (6:6) did not unsettle the German team and they increased their lead to 10:6 with four goals in three minutes. When Wolff saved a seven-meter throw at a score of 11:7 (23) and later even caught a Spanish shot, Germany could have pulled away.
That they didn't was due to problems in the attack. The Spanish defense was excellently set up, acted extremely mobile, and did not allow the hitherto best DHB shooter Renars Uscins to unfold. Because behind Gonzalo Perez de Vargas now came into the game better, the Spaniards came back and equalized with the half-time whistle.
The beginning of the second half belonged to Germany again. Not only because Wolff continued to hold strongly, but also because Uscins suddenly turned it on. With five goals within just over twelve minutes, the left-hander, who had scored 14 (!) goals against France, kept his team on track (20:18). But Spain did not give up, even took the lead for the first time in the 51st minute - the final phase became the next nerve-wracking thriller with a successful ending for the German team.
The handball player Andreas Wolff delivered a stellar performance in the semifinal match, making 22 saves and ensuring Germany's victory over Spain. In the upcoming final, the handball player Renars Uscins, who scored six goals in the second half, will be crucial for Germany as they aim for their first Olympic gold since 1980.
