Handball World Cup
World Cup setbacks laughed away: DHB women want to reach the semi-finals
After the defeat against Denmark, Germany’s handball players want to laugh about a victory again against Sweden. photo
© Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix Photo/AP/dpa
Tailwind instead of setback. The narrow defeat against title candidate Denmark strengthens the self-confidence of the German handball players. An old friend is waiting in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Despite their first World Cup defeat, Germany’s handball players were all smiles. Elated by a convincing performance against Denmark, she shuffled DHB players with a big grin and in flip flops through the interview zone. After the respectable 28:30 against the European Championship runners-up, nobody wanted to know anything about a World Cup setback – on the contrary.
The belief in the first World Cup medal in 16 years is greater than ever before. “We’re not taking any negativity with us into the quarter-finals against Sweden. The greed is huge,” said backcourt player Xenia Smits and wanted to get started straight away. “I might need the night to regenerate, but then I could get started.”
Booed for 60 minutes
After the early advance to the quarter-finals and a game at eye level against title contenders Denmark, the DHB selection is brimming with self-confidence. No trace of fear before the duel with the Swedes on Wednesday (5.30 p.m./Sportdeutschland.tv). “We held our own for 60 minutes against a booing arena, so we don’t need to be afraid of what else will come,” said co-captain Emily Bölk aggressively.
The German squad was still on the floor on Monday evening preparing for the tough test against the Scandinavians. Arm in arm, Alina Grijseels and Co. formed a circle and banged their fists together. The clear message to the competition: Germany sticks together, fights and believes in the World Cup coup.
“Nothing happened”
“You have to lose the right game at the right time. Today was about a good feeling and nothing happened. That wasn’t a dampener, we feel a tailwind,” said cyclist Julia Behnke. The 30-year-old didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that Germany missed out on winning the group and couldn’t avoid the strong Swedes in the quarter-finals. The desire to see each other again is great.
For the German seven, it is the third duel with the Northern Europeans within a few weeks. Immediately before the start of the tournament, both teams played two test games against each other and won once each. “Sweden has always been a bit ahead of us in recent years, but we are fit. We can keep the pace and also put up an aggressive defense,” said Bölk.
Too many two-minute penalties
Germany’s handball players are more confident than they have been in years. Gaugisch spoke of a new “killer mentality”, left winger Antje Döll praised “the calmness and confidence in dealing with pressure situations” and Bölk explained: “Our demands on training and our performance have changed. Many now play for top international teams. Clubs. Competing with the best in Europe is no longer something special for many, but rather everyday business.”
In order to survive against Sweden, the DHB team has to eliminate minor mistakes from the Denmark game. “We have to act more cleverly in defense. We get too many two-minute penalties. Up front we take one or two shots too quickly,” analyzed Grijseels and appealed to her teammates: “If we take the step into the top four nations If we want to go, we have to beat a team like Sweden – so full throttle!”.