Handball World Cup: DHB team faces “the most difficult task”

Handball World Cup
DHB team faces “hardest possible task”

Germany’s coach Alfred Gislason reacts. photo

© Jan Woitas/dpa

The German handball players show against Norway that they can keep up at world-class level. Nevertheless, in the end it is not enough. And now it’s going to be even harder in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Alfred Gislason couldn’t hide his disappointment long after the final whistle. With a serious expression, the national handball coach analyzed the first defeat at this World Cup against a top team. Then, on Tuesday night, he began to analyze the video of the 26:28 against Norway.

The Icelander doesn’t have much time to lose anyway after the final main round game. Because on Wednesday (8.30 p.m. / ZDF) in Gdansk, the next heavyweight is waiting for the DHB selection in the quarter-finals: Then it’s against the previously undefeated Olympic champion and record world champion France. Anything but a dream opponent for the 63-year-old.

“From my point of view, that’s the toughest possible opponent. They have a great squad, especially across the board,” said Gislason in Katowice, Poland. “I would have preferred to win the game today and then play against Spain. But that’s the way it is and we have to play an outstanding game to have a chance.”

Insufficient chance conversion and weak defensive

The German team didn’t have much to blame against Norway. But she revealed weaknesses that are punished by world-class teams like Norway or France. Above all, the poor exploitation of chances in the final phase and a defensive performance that was not always flawless cost the possible victory.

“That was our weakest game. In the first half the defense was far too permeable, in the second half we missed too many balls,” summed up captain Johannes Golla. Gislason rated the performance similarly. “Unfortunately we couldn’t get hold of the Norwegians in defense in the early stages and we didn’t have any goalkeeper performance,” he said.

The national coach made a change between the posts in the 9th minute. The outstanding Andreas Wolff came in for Joel Birlehm. But because his opponent Torbjørn Bergerud was even better in the final phase, the Scandinavians won in the end.

“In the last five to ten minutes we missed several free-standing shots against the goalkeeper,” said Gislason, adding appreciatively: “It was a great goalkeeping performance. I think that’s why Norway deserved to win in the end.”

dpa

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