EM | National coach warns about Iceland: “A big danger”

Germany meets Iceland on Thursday evening. A win is mandatory. But the opponent has it all.

“From now on, every game is a final,” said national handball player Juri Knorr on Tuesday after the defeat against France. In the main round of the home European Championship, the DHB selection urgently needs points in order to reach the semi-finals.

Four games are still outstanding, starting with the duel against Iceland this Thursday (from 8:30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online).

It is a special game for national coach Alfred Gíslason, himself an Icelander. The 64-year-old knows many of the players personally. His verdict: “This is a team that has the same quality as us. They are a big danger.”

Gíslason knows playmaker Gisli Kristjansson particularly well. “I played with his father for ten years. I saw Gisli when he was still a year old.” He later brought him to THW Kiel. Kristjansson now plays in Magdeburg and his teammates include Germany’s best left winger Lukas Mertens.

National coach Gíslason is expecting an intense and close game. “Iceland is extremely strong in terms of fighting. It will be a handball festival tomorrow,” he said on Wednesday.

The German players also rely on the support of the fans. Almost 20,000 spectators are expected in Cologne’s Lanxess Arena. NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst is looking forward to the first game in this hall at the European Championships. “I know that you can rely on the people in the region, in Cologne,” the CDU politician told the sports information service: “There will be a great atmosphere here. The Lanxess Arena is also known for its qualities for a cauldron, and the German team will certainly be happy to accept it.”