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The Week in Germany: Sports February 2, 2007 Handball: Germany Reach Final With Double Overtime Win Over France
Hosts Germany overcame a late penalty to beat European champions France 32-31 in a double overtime thriller on Thursday for a place in the world handball championship final. Markus Baur clinched the win with a penalty shot in the final minute and goalkeeper Henning Fritz saved last-gasp French effort to send the 19,000-strong Cologne crowd into a collective frenzy as Andrej Klimovets was serving a two-minute penalty. Germany are now bidding for a third world title, following trophies at the inaugural edition 1938 and in 1978. France won the title 1995 and 2001, but must now play for third place, as in 2003 and 2005. Germany's opponent in Sunday's final in Cologne will be Poland, which beat Denmark at a second semi-final later on Thursday in Hamburg. Germany got an early 5-3 lead even though they were two men down at the time from 2-minute penalties but Nikola Karabatic almost single-handedly brought France back to a 6-5 lead. France never trailed again until the final nine minutes of regulation, leading 12-11 at halftime but never more than two goals up. Holger Glandorf brought the crowd back on their feet by giving Germany the lead again at 18-17, but it took a last-gasp effort from Markus Baur to force extra time at 21-21 after Luc Abalo put France ahead with 49 seconds left. The score was still locked at 27-27 after the first 10 minutes of extra time to set another 10 minutes. France led 29-28 but that was the last time they were ahead. Baur made it 32-31 in the final minute. France thought they had levelled
from Michael Giugiu seconds later, but the referees had blown the whistle
before for a free throw and the Germans held on to the lead for a dramatic
win. (dpa) |
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