With a newly formed young team, the German national handball team made a big impression and celebrated an unexpectedly high victory in the test against Iceland in Nuremberg.
In the end it was 42:31 (20:14) for the selection of national coach Alfred Gislason, who did without some established players and instead relied on a number of youngsters. Eight players born in 2002 and younger were in the 16-man squad for the DHB selection.
And this young team impressed in all parts of the team and gives great hope for the upcoming European Championships in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, which begins in eleven weeks on January 14th. The best thrower in the German team was Denmark legionnaire Juri Knorr with nine hits.
The Icelanders – who competed in Nuremberg with nine Bundesliga players – had previously only suffered one defeat in ten international matches, against Croatia at the last World Cup in January.
Gummersbach defensive block
The German team was very excited to play right from the start and had a very strong first half. Gislason immediately trusted his new Gummersbach block in defense. In Miro Schluroff, Julian Köster and the debutant Tom Kiesler, three players from the traditional club from Oberberg occupied the central positions alongside captain Johannes Golla.
The Icelanders, who are by no means physically weak, cut their teeth on these four “edges”. Germany only conceded one goal in the first ten minutes and quickly led 6-1.
Debutant Tom Kiesler from VfL Gummersbach in a duel with Iceland’s Gisli Kristjansson
Wolff at his best
In addition, another man at the back showed his class: goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. The keeper from THW Kiel, the only over-30 player in the team alongside Jannik Kohlbacher, saved three seven-meter throws and continually amazed the Nuremberg audience with a number of top saves.
But it wasn’t just the defense that presented itself at the highest European Championship level. Gislason’s team also set an enormous pace offensively and impressed with maximum attack effectiveness. First, Julian Köster and Marko Grgic, who was only used on offense for Kiesler, set the tone.
Knorr hits from all positions
Then a man who spent the first 15 minutes on the bench took control of the game: Juri Knorr. The Neu-Aalborger scored at will and from all positions and contributed seven sparkling clean goals by the break.
Germany went into the dressing room with a six-goal lead and extended the lead to ten goals for the first time after the break at 28:18, also because the Icelandic star players Gisli Kristjansson and Omar Magnusson repeatedly made technical errors and the northerners’ goalkeepers had anything but a good day.
Strong and fast: Juri Knorr with a very strong performance in the German offensive
Everyone involved in the Tore Festival
The Germans, on the other hand, continued to put the pedal to the metal. Forearm throw Miro Schluroff, great passes to the circle to Jannik Kohlbacher and Johannes Golla – everything continued to work for the DHB team, who performed as if the almost six-month break had never happened.
The lead grew from 33:21 and 34:22 (50th) to 37:25. Wolff, Kiesler and Co. continued to hold tight at the back and so the German goals festival continued, in which those players who had not previously played took part in the final minutes. Tim Freihöfer, Matthis Häseler, Nils Lichtlein and Franz Semper, who scored the 40th goal, were given the opportunity to show themselves.
On Sunday, the Icelanders can return the favor for the slap. Then the second duel between the two teams takes place in Munich.
