After two wins from two games, the DHB team is in the main round of the World Cup early. Two of their opponents there have also already been determined.
Nils Kögler reports from Denmark
It was a tough battle, but a successful one in the end. In a real crime thriller against their neighbors from Switzerland, the German national handball team ultimately prevailed 31:29 in the second preliminary round game of the World Cup. After the 35:28 win against Poland at the start, the DHB selection can no longer be denied a place in the main round.
At the World Cup, three out of four teams from each preliminary group advance. Thanks to the two wins, Germany now has four points in Group A, three points ahead of fourth-placed Poland. With one game remaining and a maximum of two points to catch up, the selection can no longer fall out of the top three.
The last preliminary round game against the Czech Republic is still important for national coach Alfred Gislason’s team. This is due to the format of the World Cup: In addition to the three best-placed teams in preliminary group B, the Germans will share their main round group with the other two qualified teams from their own preliminary group. However, there will not be another duel with their opponents in the preliminary round, but the German team will take the points they earned against them into the main round.
To ensure that they take the maximum possible four points into the main round, the German team has to win against the Czech Republic. Because it is not yet certain which two other teams will make it to the main round. “We have to win against the Czech Republic so that we can move into the main round with the maximum number of points,” explained DHB goalkeeper Andreas Wolff on the ZDF microphone after the win against Switzerland. “There are strong teams waiting there that we have already seen play well,” the 33-year-old is certain.
In fact, two of the three German opponents in the main round have already been determined. Denmark and Italy won their first two preliminary round games in Group B, as did Germany. With four points each, they can no longer be pushed out of the top two places. Tunisia (third place) and Algeria (fourth place) each have zero points and, in a direct duel, are tied for third place and thus the last place in the German main round group.
The Italians’ entry into the main round is certainly a surprise. The southern Europeans are taking part in a World Cup for the first time in 28 years and, with their two preliminary round victories, celebrated two of only three World Cup victories by an Italian team.
Defending champion Denmark, on the other hand, entered the tournament as the top favorite and has lived up to this status with two clear victories so far. The DHB team had to experience first-hand how difficult the Danes are to beat just a few months ago in the final of the Olympic Games when they suffered a clear 26:39 defeat.
When they meet again in the main round of the World Cup, the Danes will also have the home crowd behind them in Herning. DHB goalkeeper Wolff said, given his team’s mixed performance so far despite two wins: “When we play against Denmark, we have to shift up three or four gears.”