Fritz stars in OT drama
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ByEurosport
Published 01/02/2007 at 18:45 GMT
Goalkeeper Henning Fritz was the hero as Germany edged out France in overtime to book their place in the final of the World Handball Championships. Fritz made a superb save with just seconds left in overtime to seal a 32-31 victory for the hosts in a rauc
HANDBALL 2007 World Champs 2007 Slovenia-Germany Fritz day 4
Image credit: dpa
It was a close, tense match throughout, with neither team able to build a lead of any note.
With the scores locked at 21-21 at 60 minutes, and 27-27 after 70 minutes, it was clearly going to take a moment of brilliance to finally decide a winner.
Markus Baur got the winner with a penalty shot in the final minute, although France thought they had levelled from Michael Giugiu seconds later, only for the referees to rule they had blown for a free throw moments before the ball found the net.
France kept the pressure on in the dying seconds, but Kiel keeper Fritz made a superb save with his feet on France's final play of the game to send the Cologne crowd in to raptures.
Holger Gladorf and Baur led the scoring for Germany with five, while Daniel Narcisse top-scored with eight for France.
"We knew that with 19,000 fans behind us, we could do it," Baur said afterwards. "When it went in to overtime, I was sure we would win."
Earlier, Olympic champions Croatia beat Spain 35-27 to earn the right to play Russia - who beat Iceland 28-25 - for fifth place.
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