Handball World Cup
Much praise for Wolff: “Saved our asses again”
Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff saved the German handball players from an unpleasant surprise in their shock win against Switzerland. The DHB team has to improve enormously over the course of the tournament.
Despite his gala performance and the German handball players’ early entry into the main round of the World Cup, Andreas Wolff was not in a cheerful mood. “We were hoping for a better game. There is a lot to discuss,” said the goalkeeper of the DHB selection after the difficult 31:29 defeat against Switzerland in the second preliminary round game.
After two successes, the DHB selection is in the main round early, in which two opponents have already been determined: defending champions Denmark and Italy. But so far she hasn’t been able to convince anyone. “Of course I’m relieved that we won. But it wasn’t a good game for us. We were far away from what we had planned,” criticized national coach Alfred Gislason.
Wolff holds on to victory
There was only praise from all sides for the outstanding Wolff. “We have to thank Andi, who is playing an outstanding game. In the end, there’s not much that’s missing for this to go wrong,” said captain Johannes Golla. And left winger Lukas Mertens said: “He saved our asses again.”
Wolff fended off 20 shots from the Swiss, which Gislason commented succinctly: “Andi played an outstanding game.” The 33-year-old veteran goalkeeper himself didn’t make much of a fuss about his class performance and preferred to look ahead to the group final on Sunday (6 p.m./ARD and Sportdeutschland.TV) against the Czech Republic. “We have to be a little better at finishing and also when retreating,” demanded Wolff.
DHB selection must increase
If they want to win their first World Cup medal in 18 years, the DHB team has to improve significantly – and, above all, be wide awake from the start. “The boys all come from the Bundesliga, none of them are fresh. Apparently they need a bit of temperature before things get going. That’s different to the Olympics,” said Gislason about his protégés’ noticeable initial difficulties against both Poland and Switzerland .
Golla was similarly critical of the previous World Cup appearances. “We are not yet at the top level. We do not yet have the coordination from the Olympic Games in defense and have to rely too much on Andi. There is a lot to analyze,” said the DHB captain with a view to the Czech Republic -Game. For Gislason one thing is clear: “We have to act differently.”
dpa
Source: Stern
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