National coach Alfred Gislason has nominated four debutants for the European Championships in Denmark, Sweden and Norway – three of which come from the traditional handball stronghold of Gummersbach. Coincidence?
With eleven wins and only five defeats, VfL is currently in a respectable sixth place in the Bundesliga, ahead of ambitious clubs such as Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Melsungen and Hannover. When it comes to postings for the German national team, the ten-time German champion is actually in first place – ahead of Kiel, Flensburg and Berlin. Gummersbach’s captain Julian Köster has long been a mainstay in the DHB team, he keeps the cover tight alongside captain Johannes Golla.
Gislason’s special praise for Kiesler
But before the second group game on Saturday evening (8.30 p.m./ARD) against Serbia, the handball nation’s hopes also rest on the three other members of the “Gummersbach Gang”. In addition to Köster and Golla, defensive ace and amateur hunter Tom Kiesler delivered an outstanding performance, especially in the first round against Austria (30:27).
Gislason was thrilled: “Tom really stepped up from the start, that’s what I expected from him. It’s very good for the team to have him with us, he plays with a lot of energy.”
“Slingshot” Schluroff throws 130 km/h
Miro Schluroff’s tournament debut was also impressive. The “Backfield slingshot”as his national team colleague Marko Grgic respectfully described him on Friday, replaced the initially stumbling Grgic in the middle of the first half and needed zero start-up time. Ultimately, he scored four goals in four attempts, and he also managed by far the hardest goal throw of the entire game at 130.6 kilometers per hour.
Outside player Mathis Häseler completes the four musketeers from VfL, and Gislason also expects a lot from him in this tournament. Julian Köster describes the block formation from his club to the Sportschau as follows: “I’m happy that so many from Gummersbach were affected. Last year we had a big block from Hanover, there are always clubs that stand out.”
“We feel trust and are getting playing time”
For Schluroff this is a VfL phenomenon “absolutely no coincidence.” He emphasizes: “It’s paying off that we feel a lot of trust in Gummersbach and are getting playing time. They’re doing an excellent job for German handball.”
While Gislason’s assistant coach Erik Wudtke is more of one “snapshot” national team manager Benjamin Chatton makes it clear: “I believe that they are doing an exemplary and extremely successful job in Gummersbach. And when putting together the team, we of course also try to make sure that we can form blocks because of the short preparation time, because then we can fall back on automatisms that simplify the game and the coordination.”
Chatton praises the league’s rethinking
Chatton continued: “It could also be a different club than Gummersbach. But we are of course pleased that German talent is being taken into account by the league and is also given opportunities to play.” Gislason is now benefiting from this – and can set the course for the main round with his second victory on Saturday.
