Germany thrash Saudi Arabia at Handball World Championships
January 24, 2015
Germany will head into the knockout stages of the Handball World Championships as group winners after beating Saudi Arabia 36-19.
A much-changed team fielded by Icelandic head coach Dagur Sigurdsson cruised to another two points, dominating the Saudis from start-to-finish, in front of 2,000 spectators.
"It was a strange game," admitted Sigurdsson. "There are no more guaranteed victories. It's now like a Cup feeling. But we will prepare well."
The teams held a minute silence in respect of Saudi King Abdullah who died at the age of 90 on Thursday, whilst the Saudi team unfurled a banner commemorating the country's king during the national anthem.
"We shared our condolences yesterday," said the DHB President Bernhard Bauer.
Towering over their Saudi counterparts in terms of sheer size, the German Handball Team steamed ahead taking a 6:1 lead after just seven minutes of action in Doha. That lead soon became 8:2 and by the interval the Germans had a 10-goal advantage (18:8).
Even as the points continued to come for Germany, coach Sigurdsson was evidently annoyed at the lack of concentration from his team who went on to win 36:19.
With several changes, the German starting seven looked almost unrecognizable from the previous group matches with captain Uwe Gensheimer, Steffen Weinhold and Carsten Lichtlein left on the bench.
"Matthias Musche gives us the possibility that we can take the load a little off Gensheimer," explained the head coach who handed several of his key players the night off.
Musche, who plays for SC Magdeburg, and 24-year-old Johannes Sellin bagged 11 goals each on the night - but will likely re-take their place in the bench in the Last 16.
After three wins from four, Germany will take on Egypt on Monday as they look to reclaim the World Championships following their win in 2007.
rd/sb (SID)