First wobbled, then shined: Germany’s handball players gained further self-confidence six days before the opening game of the home World Cup.
The team of national coach Markus Gaugisch did not let initial problems throw them off their game in the penultimate tough test and confidently defeated Switzerland in St. Gallen 35:17 (13:12) after a very strong second half.
“The game was very slow in the first half. We didn’t really get into our flow, but we managed that much better in the second half,” said Gaugisch. Left-hander Viola Leuchter also spoke on the DF1 microphone of two “different halves, but all the better that we managed to do it in the second half with such a strong defense.”
Playmaker Alina Grijseels was the best thrower of the DHB selection on Thursday evening with six goals, where Gaugisch tried out different constellations in defense and attack. After the stuttering start, an 8-1 run after the restart and the German defense, which only allowed five goals after the break, brought the decision. The dress rehearsal for the home tournament now follows on Saturday (2:30 p.m./DF1) in Göppingen, before Iceland is the first World Cup opponent in Stuttgart next Wednesday.
Gaugisch’s team initially had a very difficult time against the outsiders in front of 1,461 spectators. Although goalkeeper Katharina Filter defused, among other things, a seven-meter penalty in the early stages, the German offensive game didn’t get rolling at all. After being behind for a while, Emily Vogel equalized to make it 6:6 in the 19th minute.
As was often the case in the long preparation, Germany initially acted offensively without a classic pivot and instead with four backcourt players, but thus developed little penetration. Gaugisch adjusted after a timeout and brought Lisa Antl to the circle to create more gaps.
The measure and the greater breadth in the German squad ultimately paid off. After the break, Germany pulled away by consistently converting their chances. At 21:13 (41st), the lead grew to eight goals. The DHB women didn’t let up defensively either. Sarah Wachter, who moved into goal for Filter in the second period, was able to rely on strong defense. The lead continued to grow.
Germany is dreaming of its first World Cup medal at the World Cup since bronze in 2007 – and the draw meant well for the DHB team. After the opening game against Iceland, Uruguay (November 28th) and Serbia (November 30th) are the remaining tasks in the solvable preliminary round group. The main round in Dortmund is about the targeted quarter-finals, which the German team would also contest in the Westfalenhalle.