In this article, I want to tell you about a game, that took a place in the handball history. Gathering information about this game was not easy, because I had to go back a couple of years. But it was worth it. Let me tell you why:

First, we will go back in time to the 31st of Mai 2014, to the champions league semifinal between the six times champion FC Barcelona (Spain) and SG Flensburg (Germany).
After a very balanced first half, which ended 18:17 for Flensburg, the German team also started the second half very well. Three minutes after the second half kickoff, Flensburg was three points in front (21:18). Suddenly, Barcelona woke up and Flensburg falls asleep. During the next 14 minutes, SG only throws three goals, while the team from Spain scores eleven goals. But with 13 minutes left, Flensburg didn’t give up and came back to 32:30. Only two more goals in three minutes until the game goes into extension. One minute before the end, Glandorf from SG Flensburg brings his team to within one point. Barcelona’s lack of plan in the offense helped Glandorf to tie the score within the last second. The whole stadium in Cologne (Germany) freaks out.
Both teams showed their ability to recover from a bad phase. During the extension, both teams scored four goals, which ends the overtime with a tied score of 36:36. To determine a winner in this historic game, the two teams had to compete in a seven-meter throw. All five players from SG Flensburg stayed calm and scored. Barcelona on the other hand missed one shot. Flensburg didn’t only win the semi-final, but also won the champions league final for the first time.

The highest amount of goals in a national handball game was 83 in a nerve-wracking game between Island and Denmark. Denmark won the quarterfinals of the world cup 2007 with 42:41.

These games are just two examples of the large number of handball games, that were at least as eventful. There are games in which an unusually large number of goals are scored, an unusually large number of sending-offs are given, or one team manages an incredible comeback.

Besides the historical games, I want to tell you about legends of the past and the present, who are known for their incredible talents.

First, we have the man who is seen in the handball world as one of the best handball players in history. Ivano Balić. Journalists gave him names like Ronaldinho of handball or Mozart of handball.
During his career as a player, he was known for his forearm throws and no-look passes. Since he has to many achievements for this article, I am going to mention the most important ones. With the Croatian National team, he won two gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals. He was awarded world player of the Year in 2003 and 2006 and was voted the best handball player in history (in 2010).
After the end of his playing career, Ivano Balić joined the coaching team of the Croatian national team and became an assistant coach in 2021.

The second male player, who is definitely part of the handball history, is Nikola Karabatić. He might even already be a handball legend. And here is why:
Nikola Karabatić won three gold medals and one silver medal with the French national team at the Olympics, four gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals at world cups and more medals at other cups. He also is current record holder for the most times being awarded as world player of the year. Three times in total, as well as nominated for the same award five more times.

Enough said about the male handball legends. Lets continue with the women, who have earned a place in the handball history:
Christina Neagu’s international team successes are perhaps not the most interesting (1 gold medal, 4 silver medals, 8 bronze medals), therefore the personal successes are even more impressive.
In 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2018 she got awarded as World player of the year. In 2015 she was also the most valued player and the top scorer of the world championship. On European level, Christina Neagu was twice the player of the year, as well as all time top scorer and three times champions league top scorer.

The woman player, who has a way more impressive team career is Stine Bredal Oftedal. With the Norwegian national team, she won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals in World championships, placed five times first in the European championship and won many more cups.

The chance, that one of us is going to be the next handball legend is very small, but at least we can enjoy watching all the amazing players, that are or also are not on this list. I hope you liked this article.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristina_Neagu#Achievements. (24 May 2023)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stine_Bredal_Oftedal (11 June 2023)
https://www.spox.com/de/sport/handball/1405/Artikel/analyse-sg-flensburg-handewitt-schlaegt-fc-barcelona-nach-siebenmeterwerfen-champions-league-final-four.html (Florian Regelmann 31.05.2014)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Karabati%C4%87 (11 June 2023)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivano_Bali%C4%87 (8 June 2023)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stine_Bredal_Oftedal (11 June 2023)