The handball world championships in Poland and Sweden and the great efficiency of the German nationwide staff will depart you wanting extra. Jürgen Schweikardt spends two days in Stockholm and makes a optimistic conclusion. “Handball has confirmed as soon as once more that it may well encourage an viewers of hundreds of thousands,” says the managing director of the primary division membership TVB Stuttgart.
TVB additionally needs to supply its fans a bit extra within the second half of the season than on the finish of final yr. In the primary sport of the brand new yr, Bittenfelders tackle SG Flensburg-Handewitt on Sunday, February 12 on the Porsche Arena (16:05) and they are going to be accompanied by 5 newly topped Danish world champions: Kevin Moller, Mads Mensa Larsen, Johan Hansen, Emil Jakobsen and Simon Hald . It is evident that the fans are very interested by handball: TVB Stuttgart bought virtually 5,000 tickets two weeks earlier than the sport.
The three contestants of the TVB World Championship will probably be given a couple of days off
TVB doesn’t have Danish world champions like three-time German champions Flensburg in its ranks. But the three World Cup contributors will return to TVB staff coaching subsequent weekend to get better from a brief break.
Jürgen Schweikardt was more than happy with the efficiency of Daniel Fernandez (bronze medal with Spain), Oskar Bergendahl (fourth with Sweden) and Egon Hanusz (eighth with Hungary). Hanush was named man of the match in a 42-30 win over Cape Verde and Fernandez twice: Spain beat Chile 34-26 and France misplaced 26-28.
The two Stuttgarters have been unfortunate within the World Cup, as a result of they’d robust rivals in entrance of them: Hanush, skilled playmaker Mate Lekai (34), Stuttgart’s 21-yr-outdated left winger, his 13-yr-outdated identify is Angel Fernandez. “Dani did very properly,” says Schweikardt. “The future belongs to him.”
The head of TVB was additionally very impressed with Oskar Bergendahl. A torn cruciate ligament pressured the hooper to miss almost three months final yr and he celebrated his comeback simply earlier than the World Cup. Schweikardt is blissful that Bergendal confirmed good type on the World Cup and that his knee didn’t hassle him. “Oscar was an necessary a part of the Swedish staff,” he says. “I hope he can construct on these successes with us.”
The Danish goalkeeping duo was distinctive
The co-host made a bid for the title, however the Danes snagged it. It is worthy, Jürgen Schweikardt believes. And France was a worthy opponent within the closing. Especially the second half-hour of the ultimate was at a really excessive stage. Schweikardt was very eager on children Simon Pitlick (22) and Mathias Gidsel (23). To carry out just like the Danes and the French, you want a large squad – each groups have it.
Backcourt gamers Rasmus Lauge and Mads Mensa Larsen, who had not performed a lot earlier than, shone within the closing. Danish goalkeeper duo Niklas Landin/Kevin Møller have been the standout, with two different high goalkeepers behind them, former Magdeburg participant Yannick Green and FC Barcelona’s Emil Nielsen additionally not being nominated.
According to Schweikardt, the dearth of width within the squad prevented the German nationwide staff from performing properly. There was a scarcity of alternate options, particularly within the again room. Although Schweikardt Alfred Gislason’s staff proved a superb World Cup. “Especially towards Norway, the staff confirmed that they will sustain with one of the best within the world.” Fifth place is “properly deserved”.
Next huge occasion: Home EM 2024
Schweikardt was impressed with the lead position performed by Juri Knorr and Julian Koster of their youth. Now the duty of the nationwide coach is to construct a powerful staff round these two children, the left wing Lucas Mertens, the gamers Yannick Kohlbacher and Johannes Golla and the goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. The subsequent necessary occasion is the European Championship in January 2024.
In normal, Schweikardt believes that the World Championships in Sweden and Poland have introduced a superb deal to the reception of handball. The rankings of the broadcasts on public tv channels have been superb. “In some instances, handball was not removed from the World Cup quotas.” Around 5 million viewers watched Germany’s quarter-closing decider towards the Netherlands on ZDF. With 18.4 %, handball beat the ARD thriller and “Deutschland sucht den Superstar”.
TVB is ninth within the Bundesliga viewership chart
TVB cannot complain concerning the variety of viewers within the first half of the season: 35,830 fans watched the 9 video games on the Porsche Arena, a median of three,981. This places Bittenfeld in ninth place within the viewers desk. It seems to be like TVB may even enhance on the lower: 5,000 tickets have been bought on Tuesday for the primary dwelling sport of the week towards SG Flensburg-Handewitt on Sunday, and people in cost predict not less than 5,500 guests. About 3,500 tickets have been bought for the second dwelling sport towards FA Göppingen on Thursday, March 2 (7:05 p.m.).
There are a number of explanation why pre-gross sales are going so properly for Schweickardt. On the one hand, Corona now not performs an necessary position, folks have dared to go to occasions once more. Second, SG Flensburg-Handewitt is a really engaging opponent. The undeniable fact that their particular person performances haven’t been notably encouraging not too long ago is just not a decisive issue for Schweikard – though TVB has not solely delivered poor video games.
“Of course we would like to play higher and we’ve got to,” he says. On the opposite hand, the video games on the Porsche Arena are additionally occasions. “The entire household can go to handball with out worries, it is enjoyable as a result of there’s all the time one thing occurring on the court docket.” Handball is a horny sport that conjures up enthusiasm and conveys good values. “I hope and belief that TVB will do the identical.”
The solely factor lacking is athletic success. With simply 4 factors within the relegation zone, the present focus stays on the league for TVB. “Otherwise, we’re engaged on a brand new season.” The staff is just not there but, and TVB could also be strengthened this season as properly. “But we will not report something,” says Schweikardt.
However, the managing director didn’t carry any new gamers from Sweden with him. – No one matches in a suitcase.
Here are tickets for TVB vs Flensburg
Tickets for TVB Stuttgart’s first sport after the World Cup break towards SG Flensburg-Handewitt within the Porsche Arena on Sunday, February 12 (4:05 p.m.) can be found at easyticket.de.
.