Handball European Championships: “Crazy challenge”: handball players before their first school leaving exam

Isolated from the hustle and bustle surrounding the farmers’ protests in the capital, the German handball players led by director Juri Knorr got in the mood for the cracker against Olympic champions and record world champions France in the team hotel.

In the last group duel this Tuesday (8.30 p.m./ARD and Dyn) in Berlin, national coach Alfred Gislason’s team wants to pass the first true test of maturity at the home European Championships and further fuel the handball euphoria in the country after the two opening victories.

“We haven’t achieved much so far, we’ve just done our homework. Now the top teams are coming. This will be tough and a tough challenge. It will show how mature and grown-up we are,” said Knorr before the showdown with the World Cup runner-up Last year and, with a view to the further course of the tournament, added expectantly: “Maybe we can make it the winter fairy tale that we all want.”

The national coach also hopes for that. “The previous games no longer count. Now it’s just a matter of who takes the points into the main round,” said Gislason about the constellation. Only the result of the France game remains in the standings for the second phase of the tournament. “In principle, the European Championships are just getting started for us,” said DHB sports director Axel Kromer on Monday.

Germany not a favorite

Unlike the convincing performances against Switzerland (27:14) and North Macedonia (34:25), in which more than seven million people watched on television, the DHB selection is the outsider this time. “The French are the biggest favorites for the title alongside the Danes. They are very good in defense and attack, run the second wave better than any other team, have incredible fire from the backcourt and are also physically superior to most teams,” counted Gislason highlighted the qualities of the top-class opponent.

But the German team doesn’t have to hide, because the two confident victories at the start have given them a lot of self-confidence. “We need a perfect day. But of course we go into the game to win it. We believe we can do it, even if the experts don’t believe we can,” said Gislason.

DHB team has unfinished business with France

The World Cup quarter-finals a year ago are still in the back of the mind of the 64-year-old Icelander. At that time, the DHB selection lost significantly by 28:35 after playing at eye level for 40 minutes. “The last duel was really bitter. Now we want to settle the score. It would be nice if we could take revenge and go into the main round with an optimal result,” said goalkeeper Andreas Wolff.

It will be particularly important for the 2016 European champion, who shone against Switzerland, and his colleague David Späth, who shone against North Macedonia. “Now both goalkeepers are in the tournament. That’s great,” said left winger Lukas Mertens.

Captain Johannes Golla was also full of praise. “We said before that we would need both of them if we wanted to achieve something in the tournament. They delivered and showed that we can rely on them,” said the pivot. U21 world champion Späth, who celebrated each of his numerous saves against North Macedonia with emotional gestures, set the course: “We have jumped on a wave, but now we have to keep going. We must not let up for a second.”

Director as a trump card on the offensive

The great hope in attack is Juri Knorr. The playmaker warmed up for the cracker on Tuesday with ten goals against North Macedonia. “He has incredible individual quality and is our linchpin,” said left winger Rune Dahmke about the 23-year-old backcourt player from cup winners Rhein-Neckar Löwen.

Gislason also attests that Knorr has “a central role in our game” and a further development compared to the previous year. “He has become a very good player. He is more mobile and now works better for the other backcourt players,” praised the national coach.

However, Knorr himself does not see himself at the peak of his sporting development, let alone on a par with the French top stars. “There are a lot of guys there who are role models and idols for me. It’s going to be a great game,” he said almost in awe. “It will be about not having too much respect and playing a special game.”

In his opinion, the game will primarily be a mental matter. “The tactical will be important, but the mental will decide,” predicted Knorr and appealed: “It will depend on how ready we are and how emotionally we can stand against it.”