The red card against defense specialist Tom Kiesler was one of the key scenes in the final of the European Handball Championship between Germany and Denmark (27:34). National coach Alfred Gislason did not agree with the referees’ decision.
“In my opinion that was a two-minute penalty, but not a red. Even Mathias Gidsel whispered to me that it wasn’t a red card,” said Gislason after the final defeat of the DHB selection in the mixed doubles.
Tom Kiesler returned to the team after recovering from a gastrointestinal infection and had to watch against France and Croatia. But after just 15 minutes, the European Championship final was already over for the 25-year-old. The referees saw dangerous play and a hit in the face against Denmark superstar Mathias Gidsel.
“That cost us a lot,” said the national coach clearly. The expulsion represented a further weakening for the DHB selection, as Justus Fischer had to miss the game at short notice due to an infection.
Kiesler is upset, Gislason praises the development
Marko Grgic wasn’t happy with the referees’ performance either. “We didn’t get three or four whistles in attack,” the backcourt player told “ARD”. “And if Gidsel is lying across the air, he gets a seven meter penalty.”
After the final whistle, Kiesler himself struggled more with himself than with the referees. “I hit Gidsel in the neck. He dived a little, that was very unfortunate. I was a little too impetuous,” said the VfL Gummersbach player, describing the action. “I wanted to help the team. It’s extremely annoying that something like this happens. I’m obviously very disappointed about it.”
Meanwhile, national coach Alfred Gislason was extremely “proud” of his team despite missing out on the gold medal. In the mixed zone, the Icelander emphasized that his players had improved significantly “both in defense and in attack”: “We have made giant steps.” We saw that “not much” was missing from the title. With a view to the World Cup next year, one can certainly be optimistic, said the 66-year-old.
Golla: “We can walk out of here today with our heads held high”
Team manager Benjamin Chatton sees it similarly: “We are disappointed today, but tomorrow we will be even more hungry to beat the Danes. We played an excellent tournament. I am convinced that it will be a further step in development.”
Captain Johannes Golla also had a positive assessment of the European Championship. “I’m proud of the performance, of the whole tournament. We didn’t give up today either,” said the 28-year-old. “The result is clearer than the game suggested. Compared to the final at the Olympics, we can leave here today with our heads held high.”
