When the anthem sounds before the semi-final match, you can see how proud the German sitting volleyball players are of the performances they have already shown. at the Paralympics in Paris The team appears focused, singing with their chests puffed out on Thursday afternoon and literally soaking up the electrifying atmosphere in the Arena Paris Nord.
Since 2016, they had not been among the top four at the Paralympics. Now it was all about reaching the final against Bosnia and Herzegovina – and the Germans got off to a better start. After less than five minutes and with the score at 6:3 for Germany, Bosnia’s coach took his first time-out. But it was to have an effect.
The Germans continue to play actively forward, but often fail because of the opposing block. At 14:10, the cheers for Germany are still loud, but then mistakes creep in and Bosnia strikes. Even the time-out by national coach Christoph Herzog at 19:19 cannot stop the Southeast Europeans’ run. Germany falls behind and loses the set 23:25. “We didn’t finish it,” Werner sums up. “We could have taken a lot of energy with us for the next sets.”
What the Germans managed to do in the first set did not work in the second. “Whoever wins the first set has the advantage,” says the German player Tatang Francis Tonleu. “We were completely out.” The Bosnians quickly took the first points and pulled ahead to 7:0.
© imago/Press photo Baumann/IMAGO/Hansjürgen Britsch
Even more substitutions do not help to reduce the deficit. When Germany scores the first point, making it 1:9, the travelling fan block explodes. But the frustration becomes more and more visible in the German team and Herzog is no longer on the sidelines, but sits on the bench and scribbles feverishly on his tactics board.
After the Bosnians converted the set point to make it 25:6, the German player Mathis Tigler puts his hands in front of his face next to Werner. “The second set is my fault,” says Herzog after the match. “The rotations and starting line-up were not optimal.”
When the third set begins, Bosnia continues where it left off and takes the lead. But the German team has used the break and is fighting. “I am extremely happy that we have found our way back into the game after such a bad second set,” says Tonleu. That is very important.
Long rallies ensue and many balls are played into the midfield. At some point Bosnia is able to pull ahead again, pulling ahead to 15:11. But the team comes back again and equalizes to 20:20. Shouts of “Germany, Germany” ring out through the hall and the spectators stamp their feet on the floor of the stands. After another timeout Bosnia pulls ahead to 24:21. Three match points, the game seems to be decided.
But Germany rears up again. When the scoreboard tries to measure the volume, a deafening noise is heard. 130 decibels. Herzog’s team manages to equalize, then even wins set point. “You have to take these chances against the world’s best like Iran or Bosnia. If we don’t take them, we’ll lose 3-0,” says Herzog.
In total, Bosnia was able to fend off four set balls from the Germans. The stands were tearing their hair out. A questionable referee decision gave the Southeast Europeans one last match point – and they used the opportunity to score 31:29 for Bosnia.
“In the end, it was deserved. We weren’t consistent enough,” says Herzog. He can live with the first and last set. His team knew that they could play at that level. Tonleu agrees: “We had set ourselves higher goals today and we had a chance. We’ve never been so close to Bosnia.”
The bronze medal match against Egypt is already on Friday. National coach Werner knows that there is still something to be won. “It’s fantastic to be playing for a medal here,” he says, praising the German fan block. “The support makes us proud.”
Tatang Francis Tonleu sees the defeat in the semi-final as a build-up for the game against Egypt and believes the opponent is beatable. “Egypt suits us and it is a small final. My goal was to take home gold, but bronze shines just as much,” says Tonleu.
