Germans attack first EURO gold after 10 years!
Germany have booked their place in the final of the EHF EURO 2026 after beating Croatia 31:28 in a thrilling semi-final, returning to the title match for the first time in ten years, since the championship in Poland.
The first half delivered a tight, high-tempo battle. It was end-to-end handball, goal for goal, with neither side able to build a meaningful cushion. Germany were the first to create a two-goal gap in the 25th minute through Lukas Cerbe, but Croatia responded immediately and were back on level terms at 15:15 in the 27th minute. That equaliser did not unsettle Alfred Gislason’s team, who closed the opening 30 minutes with a mini-run to take a 17:15 lead into the break.
The start of the second half suggested more of the same, as Croatia cut it to 17:16 — but that moment proved to be the turning point. From the 32nd minute onwards, Germany took full control, producing a dominant 5:0 burst to surge ahead to 22:16 by the 37th minute. From there, the match increasingly felt like a one-way street.
Croatia’s final push came in the 56th minute when they narrowed the gap to 29:26, but there was no room for a late miracle. Cerbe calmly converted a seven-metre throw in the 58th minute to restore a four-goal advantage and effectively seal the outcome.
Cerbe finished as Germany’s top scorer with six goals, while Tin Lučin matched that tally for Croatia. The man of the match, however, was the outstanding Andreas Wolff, who recorded 13 saves and once again underlined his value in the biggest games.
Germany – Croatia 31:28 (17:15)
