handball
Before international doubles: Gislason takes responsibility for the team
DHB coach Alfred Gislason demands a better performance from his team than last time against Denmark before the international doubles. photo
© Jan Woitas/dpa
At the end of the 2022/23 international season, the DHB selection meets Sweden and Spain. The national coach wants to continue testing, but also wants to see better results than last time.
Before leaving for Sweden, Alfred Gislason urged the German handball players to do their duty. “We want to be different and play better than we did last time against Denmark. We put in a poor performance, particularly in attack. I’m hoping for an improvement in all areas,” emphasized the national coach on Wednesday with a view to the duel against the European champions on Thursday ( 6.35 p.m. / ARD live stream) in Kristianstad.
After the bankruptcies against the world champion, who was twice hopelessly inferior to the DHB selection in March, sports director Axel Kromer also expects a significant increase at the end of the Euro Cup against Sweden and World Cup third-placed Spain on Sunday in Berlin. “We don’t just want to take a lot back from the games, we also want to play for a result now. We have the drive and the will to finally score points against a top nation,” said Kromer.
Four newcomers
Almost eight months before the home European Championships, in which the German team wants to play for a medal, a quartet of newcomers can prove themselves against the high-class competition. Philipp Ahouansou, Renars Uscins, Max Beneke and Justus Fischer were on board when the DHB team traveled from Berlin to southern Sweden via Copenhagen.
“These are very, very strong opponents, especially for the young players. Much bigger tasks can’t really come after such a start,” said Gislason and added: “We expect them to show whether they can survive against strong opponents. But We have confidence in them. Everyone will get their share of the game. It’s the last chance to try something before the European Championships.”
Häfner and Stutzke are out
The national coach has to do without the injured backcourt players Kai Häfner and Lukas Stutzke as well as the sick pivot Jannik Kohlbacher. Luca Witzke and Julian Köster, who missed out against Denmark, as well as right winger Timo Kastening are back after a long injury break.
Above all, Gislason is expecting a lot from Köster’s return. “He is one of the most talented defenders and has become an extremely important player at a young age. You saw that at the World Cup. He has a complete package,” said the Icelander in praise of the 23-year-old from VfL Gummersbach.
Gislason is also hoping for significantly more impetus from director Juri Knorr, who recently led the Rhein-Neckar Löwen to the cup triumph, compared to the last game against Denmark. “I think the cup weekend was very important for his self-confidence. He was inhibited before and didn’t go to the goal with the usual train,” said the national coach about the shooting star of the World Cup.
Kromer warns
Unlike before the clearly lost duels with Denmark (23:30, 21:28), when the focus was exclusively on defense, this time Gislason placed value on all areas in the preparation. Because the DHB selection can no longer afford similar bankruptcies if the high spirits that arose after fifth place in the World Cup should not rush into the basement before the summer break. Sports director Kromer therefore warned: “Sweden have incredible quality, both in front and behind. We have to show great consistency in order to be able to keep up for a long time.”