Handball: Gislason will probably leave the goalkeeper out of the World Cup squad

A few days before departure for the World Cup, there is a clear candidate for elimination in the German handball squad. As national coach Alfred Gislason revealed before the trip to Denmark next Monday, he will most likely leave one of the three goalkeepers out of his current squad of 19 players.

“I think we will only travel to Denmark with two goalkeepers. I think that is safe. We are assuming that we will travel to Denmark with 18 players,” said the Icelander in the team hotel in Hamburg. However, this has not yet been completely decided.

What are the chances for Birlehm?

There are many indications that Joel Birlehm will not be traveling to the tournament in Denmark, Norway and Croatia. “We have three goalkeepers right now. Andreas Wolff is our 1a, David Späth is 1b – and Joel is the third man with us, also thanks to his performances in the Bundesliga,” said Gislason about the hierarchy.

Nevertheless, according to Gislason, Birlehm will probably also get a little playing time in the two test matches against Brazil on Thursday (6.30 p.m.) and Saturday (4.20 p.m.).

Theoretically, the DHB selection could also travel to the World Cup with 19 players. In the preliminary round games against Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, Gislason is allowed to write a maximum of 16 players from his squad on the score sheet and use them. Germany starts the tournament next Wednesday with the game against Poland.