The aspiration for a World Cup medal remains vibrant within the German handball squad. However, history reveals that advancing to the knockout stages often brings its share of disappointments, as past experiences demonstrate.
While exiting the mixed zone at the imposing Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Franz Semper momentarily lost his way. “I’m not too familiar with this area,” he remarked to a steward, who eventually guided him to the correct exit. His confusion was understandable, as this marked his first appearance at the Handball World Championship. After battling persistent muscle issues, Semper finally made his debut in the fifth game for the German team, which began its campaign on January 15th.
He promptly showcased his value, netting five goals in Germany’s 34:27 (15:13) victory over Italy on Thursday evening. “It was an exhilarating experience,” Semper shared post-match. “Despite the team’s challenges, I felt confident. We anticipated a tough match and knew it wouldn’t be as straightforward as denmark’s dominant performances.”
While the margin of victory wasn’t as commanding as Denmark’s 39:20 win over Italy, the German squad, led by national coach Alfred Gislason, celebrated securing a spot in the quarter-finals against Tunisia. The quest for a medal continues, reigniting hopes reminiscent of their 2007 home World Cup triumph. Yet, since that golden moment, the journey has often been marred by frustration rather than further glory. WELT revisits the team’s performances in the eight subsequent tournaments following their historic victory.
2009 World Cup in Croatia: A Defending Champion’s Struggle
Entering as defending champions, the German team faced high expectations. After an initial draw with Russia,they topped Group C with victories over Tunisia,Algeria,Macedonia,and Poland,their 2007 final opponents. A 35:35 tie against Serbia and a narrow 24:25 loss to Norway, marked by contentious referee decisions, dashed their semi-final hopes.The image of coach Heiner Brand confronting the referees post-match remains etched in memory, though his protests were limited to words.
Following this emotional episode, Germany fell 25:27 to Denmark, missing the semi-finals and settling for fifth place after a 28:25 win over Hungary.
2011 World Cup in Sweden: A Historic Low
If 2009 was marked by misfortune,2011 saw Germany’s performance decline due to their own shortcomings. After three wins (Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia) and two losses (France, Spain), they advanced as the third-placed team in their group. Despite an initial main-round victory over Iceland, defeats to Hungary and Norway ended their campaign prematurely. A grueling 40:35 win over Argentina in double extra time secured an eleventh-place finish—the worst in German handball World Cup history.
This tournament marked the end of Heiner Brand’s tenure as head coach, a role he had held since 1997. Four months later,he transitioned to a managerial position within the German Handball Association,with his assistant,Martin Heuberger,taking the reins.
2013 World Cup in Spain: A Mixed Campaign
Germany’s 2013 campaign began with promise, securing wins against Brazil, Argentina, montenegro, and France. However, a surprising defeat to Tunisia highlighted inconsistencies in their performance. Despite these setbacks, the team demonstrated resilience, though they fell short of reclaiming their former glory.
The German team secured the top spot in preliminary Group A, setting the stage for a much-anticipated redemption arc. Unlike earlier World Cup formats, this edition skipped the main round, moving straight to the knockout phase. In the round of 16, Germany triumphed over Macedonia with a 28:23 victory, showcasing their resilience and tactical prowess.
Three days later, the team faced the World Cup hosts in Zaragoza, where 10,600 spectators witnessed a hard-fought battle. Despite a valiant effort, Germany fell short with a 24:28 defeat, marking their exit in the quarter-finals. Sven-Sören Christophersen, now a TV analyst and managing director of TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, contributed six goals, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. While the hosts went on to claim their second World Cup title, Germany’s campaign concluded with a fifth-place finish—a respectable outcome following the disappointment of the previous tournament.
2015 World Cup in Qatar: A Turning Point for Handball
Qatar’s hosting of the 2015 World Cup marked a meaningful milestone in the nation’s enterprising sports strategy. This event was a precursor to their hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which was rescheduled to winter to accommodate the region’s extreme summer heat.
Germany’s journey to the tournament was anything but smooth. After losing to Poland in the World Cup qualifiers, the team received a wildcard entry from the International Handball Federation (IHF). Under the guidance of new head coach Dagur Sigurdsson,the team delivered a strong performance in the group stage,securing four wins against Poland,Russia,Argentina,and Saudi Arabia,along with a draw against Denmark. this impressive run earned them the top spot in Group D.
In the round of 16, Germany celebrated a decisive 23:16 victory over Egypt. However, their campaign was halted by the host nation, Qatar, whose squad featured Cuban-born Rafael Capote and Spanish-born Borja Vidal.The flexibility in nationality rules in men’s handball proved decisive, as Qatar’s star players outclassed the German side. While Qatar advanced to the final, only to be defeated by France, Germany finished in seventh place.
2017 World Cup in France: High Hopes, Bitter Disappointment
Fresh off their surprising European Championship victory in Poland the previous year, expectations were sky-high for Sigurdsson’s squad heading into the 2017 world cup in France. The team lived up to the hype in the group stage, winning all five matches against Hungary, Chile, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, and Croatia. Though, history repeated itself in the round of 16, as Germany once again fell to Qatar, this time by a narrow 20:21 margin. The team ultimately finished in ninth place, a far cry from their medal aspirations.
Following the tournament, Sigurdsson announced his departure as national coach. His successor,Christian Prokop,was appointed at a record-breaking cost of €500,000,paid to SC DHfK Leipzig. Unfortunately, this decision would later prove to be a costly misstep.
2019 World Cup in Germany and Denmark: A Homecoming with Mixed Results
For the first time since their memorable 2007 campaign, Germany co-hosted the World Cup alongside Denmark. Prokop’s team kicked off the tournament with a commanding 30:19 victory over South korea in Berlin. They followed this with wins against Brazil and Serbia, and also draws against Russia and France, securing second place in Group A. The reintroduced main round in Cologne saw Germany dominate with victories over Iceland,Croatia,and Spain,earning them a spot in the semi-finals.
In Hamburg,however,Norway dashed Germany’s hopes with a 25:31 defeat. The team’s quest for a podium finish ended in heartbreak as they lost 25:26 to france in the bronze medal match. Prokop’s tenure came to an abrupt end a year later after a fifth-place finish at the European Championships.
2021 World cup in Egypt: A Pandemic-Stricken Campaign
The 2021 World Cup in Egypt was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. New head coach Alfred Gislason faced significant challenges, with ten players unavailable due to health and safety protocols. The team started strong with a 43:14 victory over Uruguay, but their second match against Cape Verde was canceled after six players tested positive for the virus upon arrival in Egypt. The outbreak forced Germany to withdraw from the tournament prematurely,marking a disappointing end to their campaign.
The German handball team faced a challenging journey during the tournament, marked by both triumphs and setbacks. Their campaign began with a dominant 10-0 victory, showcasing their strength early on. However, the momentum faltered in the group stage as they suffered a narrow 28:29 defeat against Hungary, setting the tone for a rollercoaster ride ahead.
In the main round, the team, led by coach Gislason, experienced mixed results. A loss to Spain, a hard-fought win against Brazil, and a draw with Poland left them in third place, narrowly missing the knockout stage. Despite finishing twelfth the outcome was not seen as a sporting catastrophe within the association, especially considering the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023 Handball World Championship: A New Chapter
the 2023 World Championship, co-hosted by Poland and Sweden, brought renewed hope for the German squad. They kicked off their campaign with a convincing 31:27 win over Qatar, a team still bolstered by veteran player Capote. This was followed by victories against Serbia and Algeria, securing their position as group leaders heading into the main round.
In the main round, Germany continued to impress with wins against Argentina and the Netherlands. Despite a setback against Norway, they advanced to the quarter-finals as the group’s runner-up, relocating from Katowice to Gdansk for the decisive matches.
In Gdansk, the team delivered a spirited performance against France, holding their own for 50 minutes. However, the match ended in a 28:35 defeat, dashing their hopes of claiming a medal for the first time since 2007.Despite this, the team rallied in the placement rounds, securing victories over Egypt and Norway to finish fifth overall—a respectable achievement that highlighted their resilience and determination.
Ain, earning them a spot in the semi-finals. Though, their journey ended with a 25:31 loss to Norway, followed by a 25:26 defeat to France in the bronze medal match.Despite the disappointment of missing out on a medal, the team’s fourth-place finish was a significant improvement from previous tournaments.
2021 World Cup in Egypt: A Struggle for Consistency
The 2021 World Cup in Egypt marked a challenging chapter for the German team. Under the leadership of Alfred Gislason, who took over from christian Prokop in 2020, the team faced a series of setbacks. Injuries and inconsistent performances plagued their campaign. Despite a strong start with victories over Uruguay and Cape Verde, losses to Hungary and Spain in the preliminary round exposed vulnerabilities. The team managed to advance to the main round but struggled against tougher opponents, ultimately finishing in 12th place—a far cry from their aspirations of reclaiming past glory.
2023 World cup in Poland and sweden: A Renewed Hope
As the German team entered the 2023 World Cup, co-hosted by Poland and Sweden, there was a renewed sense of optimism. With a mix of experienced veterans and emerging talents, the team aimed to make a deep run in the tournament. Franz Semper’s debut and impactful performance against Italy symbolized the team’s potential.However, the road ahead remains uncertain, as history has shown that advancing to the knockout stages often brings both triumphs and heartbreaks. The German squad, led by Gislason, is persistent to rewrite the narrative and bring home a medal, reigniting the spirit of their 2007 triumph.
the German handball team’s journey since their 2007 World cup victory has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. While they have faced numerous challenges and disappointments, their resilience and determination continue to inspire hope for future success. As they navigate the 2023 World cup, the team remains focused on overcoming past setbacks and achieving new milestones in their storied history.
