After winning the silver medal at the home World Cup, the German handball women are starting the hot phase of the European Championship qualification with a lot of tailwind. It’s now against Slovenia.
The mood among Germany’s handball players at their first reunion since their silver coup could hardly have been better. 80 days after the home World Cup, the DHB team is ready for the international match restart on Wednesday.
“Everyone is up for handball”said national coach Markus Gaugisch before the double pack in the European Championship qualification against Slovenia. The objective before the games on Wednesday (6 p.m.) in Celje and on Sunday (3:30 p.m.) in Heidelberg? “We want to take the wind with us. We are favorites. I expect that we can do it”said the coach.
Leuchter: “Let’s get started”
The German team is determined to carry the euphoria of the World Cup into the two games. Goalkeeper Katharina Filter, Germany’s new handball player of the year, spoke of “good” Training sessions: “I have a good feeling.” And left-hander Viola Leuchter, newly crowned young world handball player, emphasized: “It’s a cool thing that we’re runners-up. But it doesn’t mean we’re happy forever. We’re all keen to take the next steps now. Let’s get started.”
Gaugisch is already thinking about the 2028 Olympics
Gaugisch, who extended his contract with the association until 2028 after the tournament, has big plans for the national team. “We laid a good foundation for the future with our performance in December. We want to take the next steps to further establish ourselves among the world’s best.”he said. The long-term goal is the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
National coach calls for sustainability
He urges sustainability: “We were successful, but it’s often the case that things are just a flash in the pan. Now it’s about continuing to work on it”said the national coach: “I’m excited to see if we can do it.”
The DHB coach reminded that “It has often been the case that sports were briefly in the public eye because of their success, but then disappeared again.” He wants the opposite for women’s handball. “We are all called upon to do this”said Gaugisch: “We with leadership and good work.” Women’s sport in general should “a positive stamp” get and be noticed more in public, “That girls come to sport because they have role models. That’s a shared mandate for everyone to continue working.”
Germany can already make its EM ticket clear
But first there is the European Championship qualification. After two wins, Germany leads qualifying group 3 – and can now make everything clear by Sunday. The finals will take place from December 3rd to 20th in Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey. The draw for the tournament will take place on April 16th in Katowice.
14 runners-up will be taking part in the upcoming international matches. However, two top performers, Xenia Smits and Aimée von Pereira, had to cancel at short notice due to injury. Dana Bleckmann and Jolina Huhnstock took their place. There is also a debutant, the 19-year-old left-hander Farrelle Njinkeu.
