Foto: Fernando "Negro" Garcia. Nuestro querido Negro fue clave para la levantada del equipo con atajadas importantes. Felicitaciones!!!
Group D:
Argentina – Chile 35:25 (15:13)
Another premiere in international handball: For the first time ever a team from Argentina has reached the Main Round of a Men’s World Championship. Thanks to their third victory the Gauchos secured their qualification and take 2:2 with them. Chile remains on the sixth place below Slovakia (equal in points but better goal difference). The brave Argentines were absolutely willing to win this match, but Chile was initially a strong opponent. And maybe Argentina had some psychological problems in being the favourite for the first time in this tournament as everybody expected them to win after beating Slovakia and Sweden. But against their South American neighbor they weren’t as strong as before – and the first 30 minutes were on eye level. But by increasing he speed and the lead right after the break to 18:13 they paved the way for the greatest success of Argentine handball ever. By leading 22:15 some minutes the later the dream was going to come true. Even when Chile reduced to 20:26, Argentina had the right means to increase the distance again to decisive 31:21 in minute 52 – and after the final whistle they really went emotional. And the Gaucho’s way hasn’t come to an end now.
Argentina festeja. En Suecia y en casa tambien.
Germany – Tunisia 36:26 (15:12)
After two straight defeats against Spain and France, including a very poor performance against the reigning champion, Germany took the important points against Tunisia thanks to an improvement in the second half. Due to their third victory they qualified – as expected – for the Main Round. The Northern Africans took the fourth place in this group and play for the place 13 to 16 in the President’s Cup. After Tunisia had led in the very beginning the initially very nervous Germans turned the game in the middle of the first half. And even as Tunisia could close the gap a little right after the break, the Germans decided the game with an 11:2 series to 27:17 in minute 44. Like before, Tunisia wasn’t able to stand the physical strength of their opponent, especially after playmaker Megannem had to be substituted. Aside the German goalkeeper Johannes Bitter played brilliant again. In the end the Germans didn’t have any problems to take a very clear victory – but they start with a burden of 0:4 points in the Main Round.
