After initial difficulties, Germany still beats Austria 34:29

Sebastian Heymann looked at the bench and raised his left fist in celebration. In the seventh minute it was he who scored the first goal for the German team and opened the scoring. And not only that, as the season progressed, the man from Göppingen became an important factor in his team finally being able to win the second game at the European Championships against Austria with 34:29 (15:16).

It was not entirely unimportant that Heymann got into the game well. Because his counterpart on the half-left position, Julius Kühn, had tested positive for the corona virus in a PCR test the day before and then had to be isolated from the team. The 28-year-old moved from the team hotel to the quarantine hotel in Bratislava planned by the European Handball Federation (EHF). The rest of the team was checked again using a rapid antigen test, which – as with another PCR test – did not reveal any additional results. The boosted Kühn is said not to have any corona symptoms, but had to be content with having to watch the game against Austria on TV.

For Kühn’s position, national coach Alfred Gislason nominated Hendrik Wagner from the second division club Ludwigshafen, who arrived in the Slovakian capital on Sunday afternoon. Against Austria, however, right winger Lukas Zerbe was initially promoted to the squad, since Wagner also has to undergo a PCR test first.

So there was a lot going on before the ball was even thrown for the first time on Sunday evening. “It was quite a shock,” said Heymann. And maybe it was also due to this shock that the DHB selection was so difficult at first. When Heymann scored the first goal, the Austrians already had three goals under their belt. The team led by Kiel’s Nikola Bilyk was correspondingly bilious after the opening defeat against Poland, moved a lot and marked aggressively.

In this respect, the expected balanced game developed, in which national coach Alfred Gislason tried a lot without initially giving his team an advantage. Heymann couldn’t change anything about that, who made four mistakes in the first half and was equally able to shine with assists, but overall the team lacked depth and, above all, access on the defensive.

Despite Till Klimpke playing solidly, they had already conceded 16 goals at the break and it was only after that that they managed to gain a lead. Also because the defense allowed fewer passes to the circle and Heymann worked away together with Johannes Golla in the center what had to be worked away.

The preliminary round ends on Tuesday against Poland

“We improved and showed how broad our squad is,” said Heymann, who finally got a break on the offensive. Gislason Luca Witzke came on for him, who, together with Philipp Weber and Christoph Steinert, formed the backcourt axis, who brought in the outside well and gradually played out a clear lead.

Everyone from the 16 squad was allowed to present themselves for over 60 minutes. “That will be extremely important for what is to come,” said Heymann. And by that the man from Göppingen not only meant the upcoming game against Poland (Tuesday, 6 p.m. / ZDF), but also the possible main round, in which the German team could move into the group with another win.