“I’m proud of this group.” This phrase was typically heard from Alfred Gislason, and even after the last 28:24 victory in the match for fifth place towards the Norwegians, the nationwide coach was at least “very happy”. Thus, the nationwide group not solely efficiently accomplished the World Handball Championship held in Poland and Sweden, but additionally took the “step ahead” anticipated by Gislason. Sometimes the younger alternative provided inspirational lectures that had been appropriate for inciting euphoria at house.
This is probably the most necessary outcome for the German Handball Federation (DHB) after a traditionally poor twelfth place in the earlier world title fights in Egypt. Especially in relation to the decade of handball introduced by the DHB – the European Championship at house subsequent 12 months and the World Cup on house soil in 2027. At the identical time, fifth place in the World Cup represents a very good beginning place for one of the three excellent gamers. DHB will apply as host for the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers in Paris, President Andreas Michelmann introduced.
Nevertheless, Gislason, who will quickly lengthen his contract till 2024, is aware of methods to classify this efficiency. Because even in the final recreation, the German choice weakened in the second half and confronted issues with technical errors and weak throws.
The German group nonetheless lacks consistency, they’ve confirmed the potential to be on high of the world
In the final recreation towards Egypt, who completed fourth at the Olympic Games, the Germans misplaced an eight-aim deficit and gained solely in additional time. The group has included these durations of weak spot into their recreation with nice consistency, together with in the quarter-finals towards France – towards an opponent that is aware of methods to exploit such issues. The DHB group confronted the report-breaking world champions for a very long time, taking the lead in the second half after which shedding for good in the last quarter-hour.
It additionally confirmed that there’s nonetheless a niche – albeit a a lot smaller one – amongst the world’s elite. Just like that, the process given to Gislson at DHB should now be utterly closed: to construct a group that may play for medals.
This is just not an boastful declare of the handball affiliation with the largest quantity of members on the planet, which likes to embellish itself with the greatest league in the world. And with matches in Katowice, Gdansk and now Stockholm, the German choice has made Gislson’s job extra exact, saying: “For the first time towards Norway we had been capable of play 60 minutes persistently,” mentioned goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. The win is the first in years towards an opponent who’s one of the elites in world handball.
Hopefuls: playmaker Juri Knorr should take German handball to the high of the world.
(Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa)
Olympic champions France, World Cup winners Denmark, European champions Sweden and Spain often end in the high 4 at main tournaments, and as soon as once more the high nations have determined the winner between themselves. The Germans once more did not penetrate this circle, however they weren’t shut for lengthy.
The most necessary gamers nonetheless lack expertise and the squad lacks high quality. However, each of these issues might be solved in the close to future. Juri Knorr and Julian Köster, 22-12 months-previous professionals who will in all probability outline the coming years, play a key function for their respective golf equipment in the Bundesliga. There is not any higher place for coaching, nowhere else is worldwide competitors so satisfying. The identical applies to teammates – solely goalkeeper Andreas Wolff performs overseas in Poland’s high membership Kielce. Of course, there is no want to fret about the goalkeeper – the 31-12 months-previous was the solely DHB participant to play at world stage frequently this World Cup.
So Ghislson has a primary-group squad match for the World Cup – and at the newest, after the Norway recreation, he realized that substitutes had been coming. Players akin to Luka Witzke, Djibril M’Bengou and the later featured Tim Zechel and Lukas Stutzke introduced aid. In addition, a number of trial gamers akin to Timo Kastenin, Julius Kühn (each injured) and Fabian Wiede (dental surgical procedure) have been dominated out, and they’re eager to return, whereas on go away defensive boss Hendrik Pekeler has already introduced this.
So it is good that Alfred Gislason might be proud of his group in the future.
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