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Handball: Germany dominate Montenegro in Euro opener

Davis VanOpdorp with SID
January 13, 2018

Germany made an impressive start to the group stage this year's European Championship, defeating Montenegro 32-19 at Croatia's Zagreb Arena. The Germans are aiming to defend the European title they won in 2016.

https://p.dw.com/p/2qoE4
Handball-EM in Zagreb Deutschland - Montenegro
Germany's Kai Häfner fires a shot in Germany's 32-19 victory over MontenegroImage: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Skolimowska

Uwe Gensheimer, the captain of Germany's handball team, scored nine goals from ten shot attempts as Germany dominated Montenegro from start to finish in their opening group stage match of the Handball European Championship on Saturday.

"That was a perfect start for us. We had an opportunity to get everyone on the scoresheet and that is top," Gensheimer told German broadcaster ZDF after the game.

Germany scored 76 percent of their shots as they beat the Montenegrins 32-19 to start Group C play. Germany goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who was replaced late in the game and left the court with ice on his right foot, won the man of the match award, making 12 saves from 26 shot attempts.

"I was surprised that we won by so much," Wolff told ZDF. "Our defense played really well."

Germany scored nine unanswered goals in a nine-minute stretch during the first half that put the game out of reach early. The defending European champions entered the half with a 17-8 lead and cruised to victory in the second half.

The victory puts Germany atop the Group C, a group that also includes Macedonia and Slovenia. Germany will face Slovenia in their next group stage game on Monday.