Victory by 11 goals: German handball players stun Iceland in a gala performance

Victory by 11 goals: German handball players stun Iceland in a gala performance. 30.10.2025, 22:20

In ten weeks, the German handball team will start their European Championship campaign. Beforehand, they will face Iceland twice in quick succession. In the first match, two German Handball Federation (DHB) players stood out with outstanding performances.

Led by Juri Knorr in top form and world-class goalkeeper Andi Wolff, the German handball team delivered a convincing performance in their comeback after almost six months, stunning Iceland. Head coach Alfred Gislason's team won the test match in Nuremberg surprisingly decisively with a score of 42:31 (20:14), boosting their confidence for the European Championship in just over ten weeks.

Juri Knorr was the standout player for Germany, scoring a total of nine goals. It was the fan favorite's first appearance in the national jersey since his summer move to Aalborg. Coach Gislason had said before the match that the 25-year-old needed to be in top form to reach the semifinals in January. Goalkeeper Wolff made more than 15 saves, including four penalty saves.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday. Knorr and his teammates will then face coach Gislason's home country once more to conclude their seven-day training camp in Munich ( 5:15 p.m. CET/ZDF ). The European Championship will take place from January 15 to February 1, 2026, in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

For the players, the days in Bavaria are therefore the perfect opportunity to draw attention to themselves and increase their chances of securing a European Championship ticket. "The core group is set, but the door remains open for everyone else," Gislason said, fueling the competition. The Icelander will announce his squad in mid-December.

The game ended shortly after halftime.

The German team got off to a flying start, taking a 6-1 lead after ten minutes. Wolff and Knorr alternated in world-class plays every minute. In the first half alone, Wolff saved three penalty shots and even scored a goal from his own half. Gummersbach's debutant, Tim Kiesler, also made a strong start.

The long break showed no signs of affecting the silver medalist from the Olympic Games in France. The German national handball team (DHB) displayed a clear improvement in their fast-paced play. Knorr, in particular, was brimming with energy and enthusiasm, and was repeatedly responsible for quick goals.

Even after the break, the home team didn't let up and pulled away to a 25-16 lead. The game was effectively over after 35 minutes. Germany created a series of scoring opportunities, primarily through the pivot and captain Johannes Golla. Even German Olympic hero Renars Uscins, who had recently been sidelined with an injury, got some playing time and scored goals.

Gislason watched the entire 60 minutes calmly from the sidelines – sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, but the Icelander never raised his voice. In the 40th minute, the German team took a ten-goal lead for the first time (28:18), and everyone got a chance to play. Almost everyone got on the scoresheet at some point.