With 15 minutes to go, Germany’s handball players are three goals behind, but they still win in the end. Alfred Gislason warns.
Hamburg (SID) Alfred Gislason blew a lot of energy, and Germany’s handball players were also relieved after the successful World Cup dress rehearsal. “The game is a wake-up call for us,” said national coach Gislason after the 28:26 (13:17) against Brazil. Captain Johannes Golla also emphasized after the crime thriller with a happy ending: “We have to demand that we do it better.”
It was only in the final phase of the game that Germany turned the game around in Hamburg against the South Americans, who are by no means a medal contender at the upcoming World Cup tournament in Denmark, Norway and Croatia. Four days before the start of its medal mission, the DHB team showed a performance with light and shadow.
“It was a hard piece of work today,” said cyclist Golla on “ZDF,” he promised: “We will do better in the tournament.” He is convinced “that we are further along. But we have seen once again that we must not neglect our virtues.”
There was a lack of precision, intensity and coordination, especially in the first round. The German team also made life difficult for themselves with a number of missed throws. When the DHB selection made use of its potential after the break – they were more aggressive at the back and more determined and consistent in their finishing at the front – the tide turned.
Four minutes before the end, playmaker Juri Knorr equalized. Renars Uscins scored the celebrated goal to make it 27:26, before Knorr added again. After the 32:25 on Thursday in Flensburg, they also managed to win the second game against Brazil, in which goalkeeper David Späth also played a part with important saves.
Handball: Germany turns game against Brazil late
“We are very relieved. We had a duty to simply show a better performance in the second half and get a good feeling for the tournament,” said Luca Witzke. Gislason added with a view to the World Cup: “It won’t be as easy as some people think. We have to perform.”
The playmakers Knorr (5 goals) and Witzke (4) were the best throwers in front of 12,379 spectators in the sold-out Barclays Arena. On Monday, the German team will travel from the Hanseatic city by bus to the team headquarters in Silkeborg, Denmark. Golla and Co. have their first World Cup game on Wednesday (8:30 p.m./ARD) in Herning against Poland. Other opponents in preliminary group A are Switzerland (January 17th/8:30 p.m./ZDF) and the Czech Republic (January 19/6:00 p.m./ARD).
Compared to the first test, Gislason started with what was supposed to be the first World Cup seven. Uscins, Knorr and Julian Köster played in the backcourt, Lukas Zerbe and Lukas Mertens played on the wings, Golla played in the circle, and Andreas Wolff was allowed to play in goal two days after the birth of his first child.
The problem initially wasn’t the defense – there was a lack of precision, especially on offense. As a result, the German team increased their attack, but now they lacked access at the back against the lively South Americans. Wolff also hardly got hold of the balls during this phase. When Marko Ggric missed again a few seconds before the half-time whistle, Brazil increased their lead to four goals for the first time.
Even after the break there were no signs of a turnaround. Whenever the home team were back within striking distance, their nerves failed them in front of the opponent’s goal. With 15 minutes to go, the German team was behind 19:22. Brazil keeper Rangel Da Rosa recorded his 15th save 11 minutes from time.