Germany 18

Malta 13

(6‑5), (3‑4), (6‑2), (3‑2)

Malta lost its opening match against Germany at the European Championship being held in Croatia.

The third session was fatal for Malta as the Germans made a four‐goal break which they preserved till the end.

In the opening two sessions the Maltese led by Milan Cirovic stood their ground with the score locked on 9‐9 by the half way line.

The third quarter was fundamental as the Maltese had no answer to Germany, who practically scored with every possession of the ball.

Malta was somehow still in the game and with four minutes to go, Malta had a man up situation but failed to score, a goal that would have cut the deficit to two goals.

Instead the Germans in a fast break re‐established their four goal cushion and the game was now dead and buried.

Malta will now face Israel on Sunday in a must win affair.

Germany: F. Benke, Z. Bozic (4), F. Korbel (1), M. Dyck, F. Schutze (3), P. Dolff, D. Strelezkij (2), Y. Chiru (5), A. Sekulic (1), L. Kuppers, N. Schipper (2), M. Gansen, M. Vernet Schweimer

Malta: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli, L. Galea (4), M. Castillo (1), S. Gi‐ alanze (1), J. Cachia, J. Muscat (4), J. Cutajar (1), J. Abela, N. Zammit (2), D. Zammit, M. Azzopardi, B. Busuttil

Referees: S. Matijasevic (Montenegro), R. Evers (Holland)