National coach Alfred Gislason is going into the two World Cup endurance tests of the German handball players against Brazil with a lot of positive energy.
“Whether we continue to have fun depends, of course, on what results we get and how we play.”said Gislason on Wednesday (January 8, 2025) and, like many national players, emphasized the good atmosphere in the team: “Everything indicates that this team can continue to thrive. But we know this: in handball we have to confirm this again and again.”
mood and cohesion “truly extraordinary”said the DHB coach: “I just hope that we can show exactly that on the field in the next few games.”
Tailwind from test games?
Gislason and his team want to gain further momentum for their World Cup mission in the Brazil games on Thursday (6.30 p.m.) in Flensburg and on Saturday (4.20 p.m.) in Hamburg.
“The main thing for us is to see where we need to improve as quickly as possible and where we need to make further progress.”said Gislason: “The Brazilians are a very good opponent to show us that.”
The comparisons against one “really good team” be one “Great preparation for us. If we want to beat the Brazilians, we have to really focus.”
Import and develop
Gislason was very satisfied with the six days of preparation for the World Cup so far. “The training sessions went very well. The atmosphere is good, the players are fit. My impression over the last few days has been very, very good.”said the Icelander: “I hope that the level of play can continue to be the same as at the Olympic Games.”
Right winger Timo Kastening also underlined this “very high priority” of the final test matches six and four days before the start of the German World Cup. “Of course we want to win, but what’s more important is that we continue to perform well and develop further.”
It is also about “Perhaps to grab the last places in the squad or to continue playing – depending on what role each player plays in the team.”
Tough fight for places
16 out of 19 is the decisive formula for the tournament, because Gislason is spoiled for choice in every World Cup game when it comes to naming the 16 players from his 19-player squad for the score sheet.
Gislason has already decided that keeper Joel Birlehm, who is due to play against Brazil, will not travel to Denmark as the third man in goal.
The most hotly contested position is likely to be on the right wing, where three alternatives are available: Kastening, Lukas Zerbe and veteran Christoph Steinert, who has recovered from a broken metacarpal.
Like once against Portugal
The players try to ignore the competition as much as possible. “If I play, I want to put my foot down”said Kastening: “I don’t even want to think about whether I’ll be nominated or not. I want to help the team, I want to play my best handball and we’ll see everything else.”
Last but not least, Thursday is also about the good feeling. The German team played its first international match in Flensburg last year; the 34:33 win against Portugal was, as is well known, the starting signal for the most successful DHB year in a long time.
“I hope it will be just as good this time”said Captain Johannes Golla, “And this time we can start the new handball year with a good feeling.”
From January 14th There is also the new sports show handball podcast “Handball auf die 1” – with daily updates from the World Cup, moderated by Stephanie Müller-Spirra, with the two handball experts Dominik Klein and Johannes “Jogi” Bitter. Every morning, in the ARD audio library and wherever podcasts are available.