Switzerland Narrowly Misses Second Place against Germany

The Swiss U21 handball national team narrowly missed out on second place at the Airport Trophy, losing their third match 24-26 against Germany and finishing the tournament in fourth place.

On the final day of the Airport Trophy 2024 in Kloten, the Swiss team faced Germany. Spain had already been crowned tournament champions before the match. However, Switzerland still had a chance to secure second place with a win by at least two goals. Despite promising performances in previous games against France and Spain, the Swiss team had yet to secure any points.

Playing in front of a packed crowd in Kloten, Switzerland had a dream start, quickly taking a 5-1 lead thanks to an offensive outburst. Valentin Wolfisberg and pivot Mischa Romer were particularly accurate during this phase. Goalkeeper Mathieu Seravalli once again showcased his skill, frustrating the German attackers. Germany called a timeout as early as the fourth minute but couldn't immediately halt the Swiss offensive surge. As the game progressed, however, lapses in concentration allowed Germany to catch up. At halftime, Switzerland held a narrow 15-14 lead, largely due to Seravalli’s 12 saves in the first half.

The second half began with a strong phase for Switzerland, who temporarily extended their lead to three goals. Wolfisberg continued to dominate the attack and took on significant responsibility. However, due to some time penalties, Germany closed the gap to one goal, setting up a tense finish. Unfortunately, the Swiss team seemed to run out of steam, enduring nine scoreless minutes. They were unable to break through the German defense. A penalty goal by Tazio Baumann brought Switzerland within 24-25, but Jarnes Faust’s goal a minute before the end dashed Swiss hopes of earning a point. Switzerland ultimately lost 24-26.

The match was marked by an outstanding performance from Valentin Wolfisberg, who scored eight goals, making him the tournament's top scorer. Goalkeeper Mathieu Seravalli also delivered an exceptional performance with a 44% save rate. Despite finishing the tournament without any points, the Swiss team's performance was encouraging: they competed closely with all three opponents and only narrowly lost each match. Switzerland should therefore enter the upcoming European Championship in 10 days with confidence.