live blog
The start of the 2025 Handball World Cup for the German team in Herning, Denmark: Everything about the first round game against Poland in the live blog.
January 14, 2025 • 10:20 p.m
This is how the day goes until kick-off
Less than 24 hours until the start of the World Cup for German handball players against Poland. Wednesday begins – of course – with breakfast, and the first sweating in the hotel is scheduled for 11 a.m. Afterwards there will be a short team meeting, lunch at 1 p.m., after which some players will go back to their rooms. There will be another snack at 5:30 p.m. before the bus leaves for the Jyske Bank Boxen, the arena in Herning, at 6 p.m.
January 14, 2025 • 9:35 p.m
Witzke – “Like chewing gum”
Playmaker Luca Witzke is happy that the wait is over tomorrow. “Nobody likes to prepare, nobody. Of course it’s a bit like chewing gum. You wait in the hotel room, watch a few more video analyses, but otherwise you wait until it finally starts and we can show what we can do. Tomorrow will be one “It’s a long day until kick-off sounds at 8:30 p.m..”
Jan 14, 2025 • 8:57 p.m
How the German handball players pass the time until the start
On Tuesday, Christoph Steinert gave a few insights into what was happening in the DHB Hotel until kick-off on Wednesday evening. Of course handball is a big topic, training is carried out and tactical details are discussed. There are also organizational aspects: “Who does what and when, what appointments do we have? Aside from handball, when we have a break from the sporting part, we play together, go for coffee, chat – that’s how we pass the time,” said Steinert. His card game group includes Nils Lichtlein, Johannes Golla and Timo Kastening. The mission? “There is no money on the table, but our honor – that is much more important.”
Jan 14, 2025 • 8:01 p.m
Opening victories for France and Italy
The first mini surprise of the World Cup is here! Italy played a World Cup game for the first time in 28 years and, just like the French, were already celebrating on matchday 1. The Italian goalkeeper Domenico Ebner was happy about “a bit of a dolce vita atmosphere in Denmark” – will the Germans also notice something of this?
January 14, 2025 • 7:20 p.m
Golla – “Now the tingling begins”
The captain of the German handball players can hardly wait to get started. “Now the tingling begins, it can really get started. You see what’s at stake and you’re a percent or two more ready. An opening win is of course the goal,” said Johannes Golla before the duel with Poland on Wednesday.
Jan 14, 2025 • 6:52 p.m
Chatton about the new one Expectations
In the sports show podcast “Handball auf die 1”, national team manager Benjamin Chatton philosophized about dealing with pressure: “Yesterday’s success is tomorrow’s expectation and therefore also the curse of the day after tomorrow“, said Chatton with thoughts of the magnificent Olympic coup in Paris in the back of his mind.
January 14, 2025 • 6:20 p.m
Semper is out
Germany’s handball players have to do without left-hander Franz Semper against Poland. The SC DHfK Leipzig backcourt player missed the final training session on Tuesday morning due to slight muscular problems and will miss the start of the preliminary round. “We have decided together that he cannot play tomorrow,” said national coach Alfred Gislason. “Unfortunately it turned out that way. He forms a very strong duo with (Renars) Uscins. We have to overcome that tomorrow.” The Icelander has to reduce his 17-man World Cup squad by one player per game to 16.
By bus from Hamburg to Silkeborg
Jan 14, 2025 • 4:59 p.m
DHB team eager for the start of the World Cup
The sometimes tough test matches against Brazil are over. Germany’s handball players are looking forward to the start of the World Cup on Wednesday evening against Poland (8.30 p.m., live on the first and in the stream as well as in the live ticker at sportschau.de) – with a lot of euphoria, but also with a few warnings and a loss of personnel.