1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Qatar hand Germany a loss

January 28, 2015

After a promising start to the Handball World Championships, Germany won't add to their 2007 triumph, losing to host nation Qatar. They now must earn their spot at the 2016 Olympics.

https://p.dw.com/p/1ESM9
Handball WM in Katar 2015 - Katar vs. Deutschland
Image: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

Germany's dreams of winning a fourth title at the Handball World Championships were dashed following a 26-24 defeat to host nation Qatar in the quarterfinals.

Dagur Sigurdsson's side came unstuck against the Qataris, who held the lead for the duration of the match. Germany now faces the other quarterfinal loser in Croatia for a place in the Olympic Qualification Tournament that determines which sides will play at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"The disappointment is massive," Sigurdsson said after the match. "It was a really tough game. We started very badly. Then we couldn't crack them down. The guys have battled incredibly."

The hosts pulled in more than 14,000 spectators for the encounter against the 2007 World Championships who looked surprisingly fragile across the back. The Qataris steamed into a 5-1 lead with Borja Vidal, one of many foreigners playing for their adopted homeland, dictating the team's play in the center.

Despite chopping-and-changing throughout the first period, Sigurdsson's team didn't seem to quite strike up the same rhythm that had seen them win three out of four group games and defeat Egypt on Monday.

As Germany felt frustrated by some decisions given against them by the Macedonian officials, Qatar exploited the lack of concentration and their three-goal advantage (25-22) with 10 minutes to play appeared a considerable margin.

However, as Germany piled on the pressure, Qatar's Danijel Saric stepped up to the plate with three excellent blocks in the final few minutes, earning the Man of the Match prize for his victorious side.

After beating Croatia 24-22, Poland will take on Qatar in the first semifinal of the Handball World Championships.

rd /sms (SID, dpa)