Germany edge out Iceland with fantastic Wolff between posts

GROUP I

Germany vs Iceland 26:24 (11:10)

• goalkeeper Andreas Wolff saved 12 shots for a 33 per cent saving efficiency and is now the player with the largest number of saves at the EHF EURO 2024, 43 in four matches – one more than his Icelandic counterpart Viktor Hallgrímsson
• in the last four minutes of the match, Wolff, the Player of the Match, sponsored by Grundfos, saved two penalties from Viggó Kristjánsson and Ómar Ingi Magnusson, to help Germany seal the win
• Germany outscored Iceland 6:4 in the last 10 minutes of the match, despite missing two penalties from Juri Knorr, as many as Iceland missed in the last four minutes
• centre back Knorr was once again Germany’s top scorer with six goals and is currently leading the top goal scorer standings with 30 goals, two more than Dutch left wing Rutger ten Velde
• Germany have now tied Hungary on two points, only one point behind Austria, who the hosts will face next round. Iceland’s chances of progression have plummeted, as they are the only side with zero points

Toe to toe until the end

Each team missed two penalties in the last 10 minutes of the match. Each team saw outstanding performances from their goalkeepers, with Björgvin Pall Gustavsson finishing with a 100 per cent saving efficiency for Iceland, with those two penalties saved, while Viktor Hallgrímsson had a 34 per cent efficiency and Andreas Wolff replied with 33 per cent and three penalties saved.

But something had to give and it was Iceland’s attack in the end, as Gisli Kristjansson, the MVP of the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 last season, played just eight minutes and 52 seconds. His fellow SC Magdeburg player Ómar Ingi Magnusson scored twice from six shots.

Nevertheless, Germany’s quest for a comeback after their loss against France does not stop here, as matches against Austria, Hungary and Croatia await, with no room for mistakes in the main round. But with a loud and noisy LANXESS arena in Cologne behind them, they might just seal their first semi-final berth since winning the title in 2016.

Photos © Kolektiff Images