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Juri Knorr and goalkeeper David Späth

Photograph:

Sören Stache / dpa

As the tension slowly dropped from the German handball players, David Späth drove up two gears again. The player of the match had just been announced, and goalkeeper Späth threw his arms up in the air and animated the crowd. The 21-year-old was pure joy about the name that had just been shouted through the hall. It wasn't his own. But that of his best friend Juri Knorr.

Shortly before, the German handball players had reached the main round of the European Championships in their own country ahead of schedule. The opening win against Switzerland (27-14) in front of a world record crowd in Düsseldorf was followed by a 34-25 win against North Macedonia in Berlin.

A large part of this was due to the second row of the selection. That includes David Späth, six saves against North Macedonia, actually the number two in goal behind veteran Andreas Wolff. Top performers such as Knorr are already at a strong European Championship level, the German playmaker was directly involved in 17 (ten goals, seven assists) of Germany's 35 goals.

What are the victories worth?

This means that the DHB selection will go into the final preliminary round match on Tuesday against runners-up France (20:30 CEST, TV: ARD), who will present the team of national coach Alfred Gíslason with their toughest test so far.

Since the 2016 European Championship, the German handball players have not won a major title, whether it will work out this year remains to be seen after the opening victories against two outsiders. Against North Macedonia, the defence showed more uncertainties than recently, and the attack sometimes lacked determination. Gíslason said, "A lot of things were good, but not good enough."

On the other hand, France could not get beyond a draw against Switzerland, the highly favoured teams from Norway and Spain have already dropped points. The DHB selection has dismantled its two opponents.

One thing is also certain: the young German team is well on its way to winning sympathy. "We've jumped on the wave," said goalkeeper Späth afterwards, they are swimming with the enthusiasm that can currently be observed in German halls, unless your name is Olaf Scholz. The Chancellor and his government are in a crisis of approval; now Scholz was playing handball and was booed by a very loud part of the 13,571 fans during his welcome in Berlin. The handball players were celebrated with chants of "Oh, how beautiful it is" three minutes before the end.

The Flummi and his friend

The euphoria is also related to guys like Späth. He was actually an unknown before the tournament, a 21-year-old who had already had too many injuries in his young career and was only a substitute player for the Rhein-Neckar Löwen for a long time. Maybe that's why Späth celebrates every save like a victory, seeks contact with the fans, shouts everything out: because it's not self-evident where he is today.

The Berlin fans celebrated the representative of regular keeper Wolff for every successful action, they also noticed that the almost two-metre-tall lanky in goal with his slightly over-the-top manner is something special. One that's like a fluff that you only have to touch to lose control of it. "I've arrived in this tournament," Späth said afterwards. He stood between the posts for 38 minutes because Wolff had not had his best day and the national coach was able to test all the squad players due to the clear score.

The game had already been over for over an hour when Späth and playmaker Knorr were still struggling through the press area. Again and again they stopped to answer one more question, and another. After all, it was a special story that they of all people were the center of attention.

Knorr and Späth play together for the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, share a room at the European Championships and spend so much time together away from sports that they call each other close friends. Now, for the first time, the buddies have been able to show their talent together on the big handball stage.

"I'd rather play with him than against him," Späth diplomatically explained his friend's outstanding performance. Knorr on Späth: "I'm happy when David can radiate what he is – a gigantic handball goalkeeper."

Knorr is already a few steps ahead in its development. He has made the leap to a regular starter, and what's more, he is probably the greatest talent that German handball has produced in recent years, with his game intelligence, his passing qualities and his finishing ability, he has risen to become Gíslason's most important player.

At last year's World Cup, he was the third-highest scorer of the World Cup with 53 goals and was named the tournament's best young player. But how confidently the 23-year-old deals with the home European Championship and much more spotlight also impresses many experts.

It is possible that goalkeeper talent Späth will also be there in a few years. In any case, the current number one is sure that Späth is well on his way there. "He's a huge talent. He will one day be one of the best in the world and doesn't need to hide from the greats," Wolff said of the current U21 World Champion.

Even though Wolff is likely to be between the posts most of the time against France, Späth will certainly get the opportunity to distinguish himself again. In any case, he is "really up for the France game" either way, said Späth in a loud voice in the press zone. His friend Knorr, who speaks much more quietly, said: "I have great respect for the enemy."

The two friends are a little different, but they have one thing in common: they bring a new freshness and joy to German handball. This strength should carry the team to a long distance.