It was a quiet exit. Without many words, the German handball players got into their bus on Thursday evening and made their way to the hotel. Some were still on the phone with family or friends, others were looking for peace and quiet. The disappointment was understandably great after the elimination at the World Cup in Gdansk on Wednesday – especially because the course of the game initially gave hope for a big sensation.
“The team has made tremendous progress. That’s why it annoys me all the more that we couldn’t finish this better here,” said a visibly distressed national coach Alfred Gislason after the 28:35 defeat against France in the quarterfinals. “The boys deserved it. But at a World Cup you also have to play the last 20 minutes well.”
It was already clear in advance that a perfect game would be needed against the Olympic champion and that small mistakes could be expensive. That’s how it happened. When Gislason’s seven allowed themselves more and more inaccuracies after a euphoric initial phase, the calmly waiting French took over the game confidently.
National coach Gislason speaks of a “learning process”
The DHB selection ultimately gave the game away and deservedly left the tournament early. The 63-year-old Icelander also had to admit that, although the extent of the failure upset him a bit.
Does this correspond to the current level of performance? He had a hard time with this question. He spoke of a “great learning process” for his players, but also of the differences in workload at a tournament that could certainly have been better organized in terms of travel distribution and scheduling.
What remains is the realization that the German team has a new hope in Juri Knorr in the middle, who sets many accents with his playfulness. However, the 22-year-old cannot bear the entire burden.
He lacks support in the backcourt. Someone who can give breaks and who can make decisions for him in an emergency. Someone who takes the pressure off of having to do everything alone. Neither the experienced Kai Häfner nor Philipp Weber, who was once chosen as captain, could take on this role. And certainly not the young Luca Witzke and Julian Köster.
There is no real alternative for Knorr – just like for Andreas Wolff in goal or Johannes Golla in the circle. At these points, the squad lacks depth.
We’ll throw everything in there and try to come out of this tournament with the best possible result.
National coach Alfred Gislason after the World Cup
The number of people on the defensive could also be higher. Although with Köster there is at least one personality here that upgrades the middle block next to Golla and thus does not make us forget the resignations of Kiel’s Hendrik Pekeler and Patrick Wiencek, but reduces the problems.
We can build on that, especially with a view to the European Championships in our own country next year. Then it should finally be enough for at least the final weekend.
The Germans are now traveling on to Stockholm, but they are not playing for the medals there, but for places five to eight. It will not be an easy task for the team to motivate themselves again after the recent failure..
Nevertheless, the team can recommend itself on Friday against Egypt (3.30 p.m. / ARD) for hosting the Olympic qualifying tournaments and also after the historically poor twelfth place at the World Cup two years ago and seventh place at the European Championships last year work further up the world rankings.
“It’s not easy going on now. But we will throw everything in there and try to come out of this tournament with the best possible result,” said Gislason. After all, he doesn’t want to end the tournament in Poland and Sweden completely disappointed.
Source: Tagesspiegel
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
