Handball European Championships
Handball players with big goals: two dreams live on
Wants to make his Olympic qualification perfect in the game for third place: Germany’s Johannes Golla. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
After the defeat against Denmark, Germany’s handball players quickly shook off their disappointment. The DHB team wants to fulfill two dreams against Sweden.
National team captain Johannes Golla lost to the semi-finals According to Denmark, they did not mourn for too long and quickly shifted their full focus to the final European Championship game against Sweden. “Of course the gold dream has shattered. But it’s easier to accept because we played a good game against the Danes,” said the handball player and announced: “Two dreams still live on.”
In the duel with the dethroned defending champion Sweden, the DHB selection on Sunday (3 p.m./ARD and Dyn) is about more than just the bronze medal. “For many people, this would be the first medal they can win at this level. And if you think about the fact that you can also secure Olympic qualification with this one game, it’s even more worth throwing everything into it,” said Golla (26).
With Andreas Wolff, Kai Häfner, Jannik Kohlbacher and Rune Dahmke, there are only four players in the German squad who were also there at the 2016 European Championship frenzy. Back then, the DHB team won gold in Poland. Especially for the young wild ones around the U21 world champions Renars Uscins and Nils Lichtlein, a third place at this home European Championship would be the greatest success of their young careers.
For left winger Dahmke, the European Championship final against the three-crown team even feels “like a final”. “Guys, there is still so much at stake,” said the North German and announced a “full fight” against Sweden. “Bronze and a direct Olympic ticket – that’s all that’s possible for us and that’s all that’s possible in sport. That would be so important for us, because qualifying for the Olympics like that is really not possible. If we could skip that, that would be fantastic.” said the 30-year-old from the German record champions THW Kiel.