Handball European Championships
Gislason sees Iceland as a great danger
Sees Iceland as a great danger: national handball coach Alfred Gislason. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Alfred Gislason doesn’t expect any surprises in the main round duel with his home country. The DHB trainer warns about the strengths of the Icelanders.
Handball national coach Alfred Gislason expects an equal opponent in his European Championship opponent Iceland.
“This is a team that has the same quality as us. They are a big danger,” said the 64-year-old before today’s European Championship game against his home country and predicted: “We expect a very tough and close game. Iceland is extremely strong in terms of combat. It will be a handball festival tomorrow.”
Hardly any team knows Gislason as well as the Icelanders. The preparation for the first of four main round games in the fight for a semi-final ticket was as detailed as ever. “But it’s clear that I know more players personally. Some since they were children,” reported Gislason, citing Gisli Kristjansson from SC Magdeburg as an example. “I played with his father for ten years. I saw Gisli when he was still a year old.” He later brought him to THW Kiel.
DHB team under pressure
The most recent duels between both teams promise pure excitement. Last year, the island state initially won 31:30, then the DHB team won 33:31. “They have a top team in the backcourt. They have very good wing players and good pivots,” praised Gislason and described former Bundesliga professional Aron Palmarsson as the star of the team.
After the defeat against France in the last preliminary round game, the DHB team is under pressure. In order to reach the big goal of the semi-finals, the team cannot afford any more slip-ups. “We’re hoping for a certain home advantage. Every game is a final and we can’t have a weak phase,” demanded Gislason. Germany plays all of its main round games in front of up to 20,000 fans in Cologne’s Lanxess Arena.