Germany advances to the men’s handball semifinals at the Paris Games thanks to a wild and thrilling finish to the match against France. Germany won the quarterfinal 35-34 after scoring a last-second point to force overtime, and another last-second point — and a save — to win the match.
AMAZING HANDBALL DRAMA. 😱
Germany scores a miraculous goal in the dying seconds and then wins against France in extra time to advance to the semi-finals! #Olympic Games in Paris photo.twitter.com/c3tK1agci6
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024
France made a couple of crucial turnovers in those final seconds. As a result, the Olympic hosts will not be promoted in the popular European sport.
France led 17-14 at halftime and led by as many as six points in the second half before Germany began to claw back. With less than 15 minutes remaining, the two teams tied the game and then traded the lead before France took a two-point lead with less than a minute remaining.
Germany then scored, capitalizing on a crucial French turnover to score a game-tying goal in the last second. Germany’s Renars Uscins, assisted by Julian Koester, scored that point to tie the score at 29-29 and force overtime.
The two teams then went into a 10-minute overtime period, where the game was once again close. With less than 15 seconds remaining and the teams tied at 34-34, Uscins stepped up again and scored the winning goal, but France quickly came back on the fast break for a chance to tie the game.
In the dying seconds, a final attempt by France to keep the game going was miraculously saved by German goalkeeper David Spaeth.
A series of miracles from Germany sees the team reach the semi-finals, where they face Spain for a chance at gold.
