Handball European Championship in the live blog: Germany before the start against Switzerland

Germany’s handball players are looking forward to the important European Championship opening game against Switzerland. All news about the game in the live blog.

Jan 9, 2024 • 9:41 p.m

National coach Alfred Gislason: Switzerland “at the draw hardest possible Opponent”

“Favorite role or not. We go into every game in this home tournament to win it”said national coach Alfred Gislason on Tuesday (09.01.24) before the game against Switzerland: “We will do everything we can to win the game. But we know that it will be anything but easy.” Switzerland is in the draw “heaviest possible opponents” been.

Jan 9, 2024 • 8:49 p.m

Gislason: The mood in the team is really good

The mood in the German team is “always good anyway”said Gislason before the DHB’s first European Championship game against Switzerland (audio stream on sportschau.de, Wednesday, from 8:44 p.m.). The mood was high throughout the team, which trained with all 17 players on Tuesday “extraordinary. I notice more anticipation than nervousness”said Gislason, “The mood is good, the anticipation is huge.”

Jan 9, 2024 • 7:27 p.m

Gislason: Home European Championships are something completely new

The European Championships in Germany have one for him personally “very important”said Gislason. “As a national coach, coaching at a home tournament for the first time is something completely new for me.” He experienced the 2007 World Cup as coach of the Icelanders. “I’m happy to experience that now on the Germany bench. I assume it will be the same as it was back then. It’s a great honor for me and I’m really looking forward to the game.”

Jan 9, 2024 • 7:08 p.m

Switzerland star Andy Schmid: “I’m surprised” – about the stadium and about the new Swiss role

Former Swiss Bundesliga star Andy Schmid sees the pressure before the European Championship opening game against Germany on the host side. “I’m a bit surprised that we’re being talked about so strongly, I have to be honest.”said Schmid after the final training session on Tuesday in Düsseldorf: “We’re also honored by that because I think Swiss handball has really taken off in recent years.” Schmid also praised Knorr: He was “a fantastic player. A person with a lot of depth”.

Jan 9, 2024 • 6:02 p.m

Golla: “I hope it will be overwhelming”

Alfred Gislason couldn’t get enough. The national coach chased his handball players through the football stadium for two hours. The anticipation of the world record game at the start of the medal hunt at the home European Championships increased immeasurably during training in the gigantic arena. “I think it will be overwhelming when we come in here and the national anthem is played.”said Captain Johannes Golla.

Wednesday’s tricky task against Switzerland is not just emotionally outstanding. Golla and his teammates want an opening victory in front of 53,000 fans in Düsseldorf and millions in front of the television “Wave” caught and trigger a handball euphoria in the country. “Of course we hope that the mood will be great and that it will spread to us”said Golla before the game against the Swiss led by Andy Schmid.

Jan 9, 2024 • 3:49 p.m

Complete live broadcast in audio stream

The highly anticipated opening game of the German team at the European Championships against Switzerland on Wednesday in Düsseldorf will be offered in its entirety in an audio stream. The stream will be available on Wednesday from 8:44 p.m. Long-time handball reporters Daniel Neuhaus and Thorsten vom Weg are sitting at the microphone for ARD in Düsseldorf’s Merkur Arena.

Jan 9, 2024 • 3:07 p.m

Opening opponent Switzerland a stumbling block?

Germany’s opening opponent Switzerland is not one of the absolute elite in the European Championship field, but it has what it takes to become a stumbling block. Main reason: Andy Schmid. The 40-year-old playmaker pulled the strings at the Rhein-Neckar Löwen for twelve years, becoming player of the season several times and German champion twice.

The Swiss are also strong in the left backcourt. Manuel Zehnder from ThSV Eisenach is currently the top goalscorer in the Bundesliga for Switzerland and Wetzlar’s Lenny Rubin, also on the left, is in the top 10 Bundesliga scorers. By the way, Rubin announced today that he would be leaving HSG at the end of the season. He will take on a new challenge in club handball.

Jan 9, 2024 • 2:51 p.m

Portrait of Juri Knorr – playmaker in focus

He sets the rhythm and directs the game of the German team: Juri Knorr. How Germany starts the tournament also depends on the young director of the DHB team.

“I want to take responsibility, I want to be on the table and help the team. I want to contribute my skills in some way”says the 23-year-old hopeful himself, who was portrayed by Sportschau in a detailed documentary – can be seen in the ARD media library.

January 9, 2024 • 12:35 p.m

First of all, none Post-nomination – Zerbe and Nethdurft but on standby

Following Patrick Groetzki’s injury, national coach Alfred Gislason initially decided not to call up the team. The two outside players Lukas Zerbe and Tim Nothdurft are available as potential replacements. “We called the boys so as not to surprise them. They were both very happy about the call,” said assistant coach Erik Wudtke. The two were “informed that they should shift up from first gear to second gear.”

Jan 9, 2024 • 12:29 p.m

2,000 Swiss fans are planning a fan march – but probably without cowbells

At least 2,000 Swiss fans – at least that’s how large the contingent for the Swiss block in the stadium was – are expected in Düsseldorf – tend to be more. Under the motto #AlleInRot, a fan march is planned into the city center and then to the arena. There was important information for the fans in advance, including: A reference to a stadium ban on bulky items – “for example cowbells.”

Jan 9, 2024 • 12:23 p.m

Train drivers’ strike causes logistical problems

“We don’t need to make any secret of the fact that we’re not happy about it. The strike is coming at the worst possible time.”said DHB CEO Mark Schober on Monday at a media event in Cologne about the three-day strike by the train drivers’ union GDL announced for Wednesday and added: “There will be a special timetable. The teams, guests and officials will be transported on this special timetable.” However, some fans could also opt for the special timetable. According to Schober, 20 to 25 percent of the trains could run.

January 9, 2024 • 12:00 p.m

Round anniversary for Kohlbacher?

Anyone who likes round numbers will love this fun fact: Circular Jannik Kohlbacher will play his 100th international match against the Swiss, if nothing comes up – and possibly in front of 50,000 spectators.

Jan 9, 2024 • 11:01 am

Minus temperatures outside – temperature in the arena

In Düsseldorf, outside temperatures around the game are expected to be well below freezing. “Hopefully it’s not too cold,” said national coach Alfred Gislason, who was a bit worried about the future. So far it seems that players and fans don’t have to worry about anything in the arena itself. During the first media appointments and training sessions in the arena, heaters and the closed roof ensured that no one had to light a campfire in the stands.

Jan 9, 2024 • 10:07 am

World record game expected in front of 53,000 fans

53,000 fans are expected at the opening game of the 2024 European Handball Championship between Germany and Switzerland – including Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Extensive renovation work has taken place in the stadium where second division football team Fortuna Düsseldorf usually plays its home games. 25 kilometers of cable were laid, 9,000 extra seats were installed and huge video projectors were installed.