The match featured a red card, a missed penalty, numerous controversial moments, and a hall packed with enthusiastic spectators. Most importantly, it showcased two teams locked in a contest that was impossible to ignore. The score stood at 32-32 as the final minute approached.
As the favorite, Kriens had just failed to convert a seven-meter throw. The underdogs from Thun seized the opportunity, and with a successful final attack, they could claim their first title since 2019.
Coach Remo Badertscher called a time-out with 26 seconds remaining to strategize the crucial play. Ron Delhees attempted a final shot, but Sven Näf, the goalkeeper from Lucerne, made a stunning save that initiated a counterattack. On Langenick drew a penalty just before the sound of the final horn, which Luca Sigrist converted.
In a match that was within their grasp, the Berner Oberländer experienced a bitter defeat.
On average, only 667 spectators attend a match in the country’s top men’s league. Handball is essentially a niche sport in Switzerland, largely enjoyed by its committed community.
The sport deserves much greater recognition. The national team recently proved it can compete with the best, finishing in the top 12 at the World Championship.
Attendees at matches are often amazed by the unmatched pace and intensity of the athletes. After the game, players mingle with fans, queuing up at the bratwurst stand, creating an extraordinary closeness to elite athletes that is virtually nonexistent in football.
The Swiss handball scene has much to offer, and it is their responsibility to make it clear to the public. Historically, clubs have worked more against each other than together. The format of the top league, which consists of ten teams competing for eight playoff spots through a tedious qualification phase, is seen as absurd, making the championship excessively lengthy