Germany’s handball women wanted to cause a surprise at the World Cup. Reaching the semi-finals remained a pipe dream. Now we are still looking forward.
It was largely a lesson that the Swedish team gave the German team in this quarter-final in Herning, Denmark. The Swedes were a class above and superior to national coach Markus Gaugisch’s team in all respects.
Disillusioned and dismayed
Bölk, Grijseels and Co. had hoped for a coup after the convincing tournament run and the victory over the three-crown team in the test before the World Cup. It’s understandable that the disillusionment was now great. The German players stood in the interview zone quite dismayed after the massive quarter-final defeat.
Where Katharina Filter and Co. had praised the team’s positive development with a broad grin just two days earlier, there was helplessness. Some players shed bitter tears.
Grijseels: “We have to question ourselves”
Center player Alina Grijseels was one of the first to regain her composure. “Everyone has to question themselves as to why they haven’t reached their performance limits.”said the player, who is under contract with the French first division club Metz Handball, and confessed: “Today we saw that we are not yet one of the top four nations.”
In moments of disappointment, there were also defiant reactions – especially from DHB board member Axel Kromer. “We are satisfied with the team’s trend. We won’t let the trend talk us down now.”Kromer attested to an overall positive development for his players.
Loss of performance in the decisive games
Kromer did not miss the fact that there is a pattern to the performances of German handball players at major tournaments. Confident performances in the preliminary and main rounds allow players, coaches and fans to dream of big hits and even a medal at major tournaments. The drop in performance always occurs when it counts: in the knockout phase. Three times seventh and once eighth are the results of the past European and World Championships.
Now this World Cup tournament is not yet over for the Germans. The small semi-finals are for places five to eight.
Goal now: fifth place – also for Olympic qualification
National coach Markus Gaugisch has great hopes for a conciliatory tournament finish for the German handball players. “We don’t have the time to fall into mourning. We played six excellent games and left a half behind. That shouldn’t distract us from our path,” said Gaugisch on Thursday (December 14, 2023) in a media round with a view to the upcoming games for places five to seven and added: “I’m confident.”
“We still have two games left. Now we have to get fifth place. We want to play better against good opponents and take this feeling with us into the Olympic qualification.”Alina Grijseels also appealed to her teammates.
Two wins at the end would not only be helpful for the mood, but also to move into a supposedly easier group at the Olympic qualifying tournament. “I believe that we have a team that allows us to look forward to the next few days with courage,” said sports director Axel Kromer.
On Friday (11.30 a.m.) in the game against the Czech Republic, the Gaugisch team can show that the road to the top in the world is not that long after all.