The Swiss handball team only won the first leg of the World Championship play-off against Italy 32:29. Coach Andy Schmid's team was far too inconsistent.
13.05.2026, 20:55
13.05.2026, 22:35
SDA
"Our performance determines the result," said Andy Schmid before the game. However, it took 20 minutes for the Swiss to get up to speed, which is why they were trailing 7:13 at one point. But then the hosts turned up the heat in front of 4850 spectators in Zurich's Hallenstadion - the score was 16:17 at the break. In the 38th minute, the hosts led 22:18. They were unable to pull away any further because they let up again. Italy reduced the deficit to 29:32 virtually with the final whistle.
Goalkeeper Nikola Portner played a big part in the Swiss winning at all, although he has not been in action since the international matches against Croatia in mid-March, as he no longer plays a role at Magdeburg, the Bundesliga leaders. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old impressed with 15 saves, including six saved penalties. Left wing Noam Leopold earned the best mark in attack, scoring nine goals and not missing a single shot. Luca Sigrist also repeatedly underlined his great talent and scored six goals.
What the Swiss showed at times in the first half was subterranean. After taking a 4:3 lead for the first time in this game in the 4th minute, they experienced a pronounced period of weakness, as if someone had pulled the plug on them. While the Italians scored far too easily, the home side only managed two goals in the next twelve attacks - hence the 7:13 deficit.
The Swiss then got their act together. They improved in their previously patchy defense and successfully completed ten attacks in a row. Leopold equalized in the final minute before the break to make it 16:16. The second leg will take place on Sunday in Faenza - the winner of the play-off will qualify for the World Cup in Germany next January.
Telegram:
Switzerland - Italy 32:29 (16:17)
Zurich. - 4850 spectators. - Refereed by Boricic/Markovic (SRB). - Penalties: 6 times 2 minutes against Switzerland, 3 times 2 minutes against Italy.
Switzerland: Portner (15 saves)/Seravalli; Meister, Rubin (2), Manuel Zehnder (5/10), Aellen (2), Kusio, Röthlisberger, Küttel, Steenaerts (2), Laube (5), Wanner, Sigrist (6), Samuel Zehnder (1), Willecke, Leopold (9/3).
Italy: Ebner (9)/Panitti Martinez (5); Prantner (2), De Angelis, Dapiran (7/3), Bulzamini, Savini, D'Antino, Mengon (1), Bortoli (5), Pugliese, Manojlovic (1), Helmersson (8/1), Romei, Parisini (5), Belardinelli.
Remarks: Switzerland without Maros (injured). Missed penalties: 0:6.
