The record against Sweden is disastrous. But Germany’s handball players are brimming with self-confidence after perfect preparation. In order to be in top shape, the team has to make a difficult decision.
Like curious students on a class trip, Germany’s handball players wandered through the Olympic Village in their bright yellow outfits. The obligatory sightseeing program in the new quarters on the northern outskirts of Paris finally put the DHB selection in the Team Germany mood.
“The first impressions are entirely positive. We found very, very tidy apartments. The Team D feeling was very, very strong from the very first moment,” reported Captain Johannes Golla, raving about the reception with applause in the German House. “That was a good sign that a great sense of togetherness was emerging again.”
The DHB team also wants to earn applause with an opening victory this Saturday (7 p.m.). But the opening hurdle could hardly be greater, because the European Championship third-place team Sweden is waiting. “Of course we need an almost perfect game against Sweden, no question about it. We need to have a good defense and need good goalkeeping,” said leading player Golla to his teammates.
Last victory a good omen?
You have to scroll down a long way in the international match archive to find the last German victory against the Scandinavians. In the summer of 2016, the DHB team won 32:29. Back then, it was also a duel at the Olympic Games. Back then, it was also the opening match. A good omen? Because we all know how the trip ended in Rio eight years ago. No one at the German Handball Association would complain about bronze this time either.
But where should playmaker Juri Knorr, Golla and co. get their confidence from? Andreas Wolff and Kai Häfner, who replaced the injured Franz Semper, are the only players in the German Olympic squad who know what it feels like to win against the Three Crowns team. The team’s teammates are more likely to remember defeats. Like the one at the home European Championships in the match for third place. “Their worst level is incredibly high. But it’s our turn now,” said DHB professional Christoph Steinert defiantly.
No “Olympic tourism”
The DHB pros are taking courage from the almost perfect preparation phase. After victories against European champions France, Hungary and preliminary round opponents Japan, Germany’s handball players are in top form right at the peak of the season. “Of course we still have fluctuations in our game, but the downward swings are much smaller than in the past,” analyzed Steinert, who wants to take a big step towards the quarter-finals with a win against Sweden. “Even fewer ball losses, allow even fewer goals at high speed and be more effective in finishing,” demanded the backcourt player.
The DHB team doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. The goal is to minimize external influences and focus entirely on Sweden. The lengthy opening ceremony this evening will therefore take place without the German handball players. “We can’t afford to lose a few percentage points against Sweden. That’s why we decided as a team to travel to Paris so that we don’t become tourists and don’t do Olympic tourism,” said Golla, explaining the team’s decision.
Source: Stern
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