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Defense as a trump card: handball players hope for EM flow
Also wants to impress against North Macedonia: Germany’s Julian Köster. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
The German handball players want to book their ticket for the main round of the European Championship early against North Macedonia. They are once again relying on a world-class duo in defense.
Video study, training and a little free time: the additional day of rest before the groundbreaking European Championship group duel North Macedonia came in very handy for the German handball players around backcourt ace Julian Köster.
“You can’t shut down completely. But a little more regeneration time is good for us,” said the 23-year-old and, looking forward to the game this Sunday (8.30 p.m./ZDF and Dyn) in Berlin, added: “We’re a pretty cool one Team that is extremely keen on this home tournament. We will be there emotionally.”
Move into the second phase of the tournament beckons
With a win, the DHB selection can book their ticket for the main round and, after the furious 27:14 in the opening game against Switzerland in front of a world record crowd of 53,586 fans, reach the first European Championship stage goal ahead of schedule.
“The images in our heads will remain for a lifetime. But we now have to focus on North Macedonia. We want to continue to play the tournament successfully. Accordingly, we take this as a push and want to build a flow,” said right winger Timo Kastening, setting out the route.
The German players got in the mood for the game by playing cards, table football, at the darts board or with a cup of coffee. With a similarly rousing performance as in Düsseldorf, the enthusiasm for handball in Germany should be further increased. “We’re looking forward to a cauldron in Berlin that will hopefully burn. It’s up to us to play the game successfully,” said Kastening.
The dream start to the European Championships inspired the team and showed “how great the euphoria can be,” said captain Johannes Golla in the ZDF morning magazine. At the same time, the 26-year-old warned not to lose his grip on the ground.
“It’s like a final again. We’re facing an almost unchanged situation. If we don’t present ourselves well against North Macedonia, the brilliant opening game won’t have helped us. So our senses are sharpened again,” said the pivot from Bundesliga club SG Flensburg-Handewitt .
Defense as trump card
A lot will again depend on the inner block with Golla and Köster, who national coach Alfred Gislason said had a “phenomenal performance” against Switzerland. The duo are uncompromising in defense and are well on their way to following in the great footsteps of Hendrik Pekeler and Patrick Wiencek. The two Kielers, who have now retired from the national team, were considered the best inner block in the world for many years.
“We always make arrangements beforehand. If it works on the floor like it did against Switzerland, it’s of course good,” said Köster about the defensive cooperation with Golla.
For Gislason, Köster is already “one of the best defensive players in the world” despite being only 23 years old. In the public eye, the two-meter slag still flies a little under the radar. Internally, Köster has long been one of the indispensable pillars in the DHB team alongside goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, director Juri Knorr and Golla.
Teammates ennoble Köster
He is therefore held in high esteem by his teammates. “I don’t know if there is another player who has such skills at his size. He is incredibly agile, fast and great at one-on-ones. He can defend jump shots, slap throws and everything on defense. Julian is a “Incredible player,” Knorr praised the captain of Bundesliga club VfL Gummersbach.
For Kastening, Köster is “one of the few German players who is incredibly complete. Regardless of whether he is covering in the inside block or making decisions in the attack, there is actually nothing that he needs to work on,” praised Kastening and added: “He “He’s a super guy, incredibly advanced for his age and also clear-headed. We’re glad we have him on the team.”
Köster, who once went to the same school as national soccer player Florian Wirtz and was trained by his mother Karin at TuS SW Brauweiler, made his debut in the DHB team in November 2021 as a second division player at the time. At the 2022 European Championships, he played all seven tournament games and was the second-best German goalscorer with 18 goals.
It certainly won’t be enough to achieve a top goal rate at the home European Championship, as Köster is usually spared for the hard defensive work in attack. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who was outstanding against Switzerland, is also relying on this. “If the boys defend against North Macedonia with the same courage, we can definitely put together a very good defensive package again,” predicted the 32-year-old.