No medal, however loads of reward and a promising outlook: Germany completed the World Handball Championships in Poland and Sweden with a respectable fifth place, however there was no signal of relaxation.
“I might give the gamers a minimum of a month off,” nationwide coach Alfred Gislason stated, however the DHB Cup quarter-finals are scheduled for the weekend earlier than the Bundesliga resumes on Thursday.
The subsequent main handball tournaments can be held one after the opposite. From June 20 to July 2, 2023, the following main occasion would be the U21 World Cup in Germany and Greece.
“This match opens a decade of handball,” stated nationwide participant Paul Drucks, who acts as an envoy for the match with German courts in Berlin, Magdeburg and Hanover.
German decade of handball
“Handball decade” is a time period that comes up repeatedly on the German aspect. Because after the Junior World Championship, the senior nationwide workforce will host the European Championship at residence in January 2024. In 2025, the Women’s World Cup can be held in Germany and the Netherlands, and in 2027, the Men’s World Cup can be held in Germany.
Former DHB vice-president Bob Hanning commented: “The fats years of handball have solely simply begun.” image.
Martin Heuberger is the coach of the U21 nationwide workforce
German expertise ought to begin in the summertime – and there is all the time purpose to be assured.
For instance, the previous coach of the nationwide workforce, Martin Heuberger, was impressed by how his youth workforce carried out within the four-nation match in the beginning of January.
German U21: “Handball monster” stunned
43:22 towards European champions Spain, 43:24 towards European Championship runners-up Portugal and 35:23 towards France – Germany confirmed spectacular outcomes forward of the match towards one of the best European groups.
“What type of handball monster is Germany creating there?” Unbelievable,” the Icelandic handball skilled wrote on Twitter.
“They performed sensationally nicely,” Drucks stated SPORTS1: “This title may very well be the aim on the World Cup.”
The Big Difference: What expertise is on supply for EM?
And DHB captain Johannes Golla defined SPORTS1: “The U21 World Cup is a massive occasion price selling. Children also can take the following step there. Then I need to know who will step as much as the senior workforce sooner or later.”
Bundesliga and the second division 1. Many gamers of Fuchse Berlin, who cooperate for VfL Potsdam, are thought of promising, reminiscent of Tim Freihofer or Nils Lichtlein, the nephew of former nationwide participant Carsten Lichtlein.
Rhein-Neckar Leuven will carry high quality with them, with goalkeepers David Spatt and Mats Gruppe already having a style of the Bundesliga air. Renars Uschins (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf) is the captain and gained the U19 European Championship two years in the past.
Wolff is aiming to win a medal on residence soil
One or the opposite younger skilled could play a function within the senior squad between January 10 and 28, 2024 – however nationwide coach Gislason has the foundations in place.
Especially for the reason that return of Hendrik Pekeler is within the room and injured specialists like Timo Kastenin, Julius Kühn or Fabian Wiede may be choices. (Update: Are the Pecks Back? Answered by Gislason)
“This senior workforce, within the construction they’re in now, can nonetheless play collectively and develop for a number of years,” Golla stated.
What is maturity in German handball?
Fifth-placed DHB returned to the prolonged World Cup after a traditionally poor 2021 World Cup with a 28-24 win towards Norway.
After defeat: DHB goalkeeper Andreas Wolf talks about lack of expertise
Based on this, “we are able to purpose for a medal or a semi-final on the European Championships at residence,” stated goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who was voted into the All-Star workforce. SPORTS1: “We will certainly take away a lot of optimistic issues from EM at residence.”
Knorr needs extra from you
Golla noticed comparable issues, saying it was a “nice sign” that he and his teammates had a likelihood to win each World Cup recreation besides the quarter-final towards France.
“We are on a good path. But there is nonetheless a lot to do,” stated Golla, who carried out nicely on the World Championship. “I additionally think about it my responsibility to develop the workforce along with the teaching workers to play for medals sooner or later.”
Flensburg, goalkeeper Wolff as an skilled prop and 22-year-olds Julian Koster and Juri Knorr are anticipated to be key figures within the coming 12 months.
No medal! The DHB workforce certified for the semi-finals of the World Handball Championship 2 after 10
More importantly, Knorr, from Rhine-Neckar Loewen, confirmed what he can do as a key playmaker in his first match.
The 22-year-old soccer participant was the highest scorer, gained the title of one of the best younger participant, and in addition made the All-Star workforce. “Yuri has proven 100% that he can carry out at this degree,” Golla stated.
Germany is aiming to win a prize on the European Handball Championship
Gislason was very proud total, evident after the bitter quarter-final towards France.
“We have made nice progress in some instances. The boys realized a lot. A variety of guys got here as gifted gamers and got here again as acknowledged, good gamers,” stated the skilled Icelander, whose contract can be prolonged. “I’m very assured. We can take some actually good issues with us.”
Handball World Cup: DHB coach Gislason will get a chortle on the press convention
Can spark a new increase within the “handball decade”? As Wolf (“one, two, three, perhaps 4 locations”) and Golla additionally indicated, the workforce has massive ambitions from a sporting perspective.
DHB President Andreas Michelmann insisted: “The aim at residence EC ought to be to take the following step and end within the high 4.” Sports director Axel Cromer added. : “Of course everybody on the final weekend needs to make it to the finals.”
The newest medals have been on the 2016 European Winter Championships in Poland and bronze on the Olympics in Rio the identical 12 months.
Germany is aiming for a world report
Sports success is one factor, public notion, fan curiosity and public picture are one other.
The first sound barrier has already been damaged: 40,000 tickets have been offered for the opening recreation, which can be performed in Fortuna Dusseldorf’s soccer stadium Mercure Spillarena.
The world report should fall – the earlier greatest handball attendance was in Frankfurt in 2014 (44,189 followers towards HSV Hamburg in Rhein-Neckar Leuven).
“I’m actually glad. It’s one thing I’ve by no means skilled earlier than,” Gislason stated ZDF.
Germany’s handball stars have been glad on the World Championship: “They are very glad”
Of course, monetary components additionally play a function: based on the DHB, it must promote round 70-75 per cent of tickets across the clock to interrupt even. Tools: Approving video games with out Germany’s participation must also be OK.
‘Disaster’: DHB plain textual content about journey chaos
It is additionally essential to arrange a match that avoids typically chaotic scheduling, as in Poland and Sweden.
The Danish semi-final was not performed on the similar venue as the ultimate, and till the German quarter-final, it was nonetheless unclear the place the potential semi-final can be performed the next day.
“It should not occur once more,” stated DHB chief government Mark Schober, sporting director Axel Cromer informed the specialist journal handball week even the phrase “catastrophe” within the mouth: “What is required of some groups and international locations when it comes to journey on this World Cup, for instance, is not appropriate for high athletes. The scenario after the quarter-finals was bleak and tough to foretell.” (Update: ‘Disastrous’ is a easy textual content in regards to the chaos of the World Cup)
DHB president Michelman stated: “It’s good to have a degree taking part in subject for everybody. Therefore, our conclusion: the final weekend in Poland and Sweden shouldn’t be shared.”
Therefore, Golla stated: “We are trying ahead to the EC, which is able to solely be held in Germany.”
So does the handball decade actually produce a handball monster?