Handball European Championship: National coach Gislason dreams of the semi-finals and hopes for Wolff

For successful coach Alfred Gislason, the home European Championships in January are one of the biggest challenges of his career. Despite the cancellation of important players and a short preparation, the national handball coach believes in his young team.

The geyser begins to bubble. There are only 80 days left until the opening game against Switzerland at the first European Handball Championship in Germany. The national coach is plagued by a number of construction sites, but the title collector from Iceland, who became one of the most successful club coaches ever in Kiel and Magdeburg, does not show the constantly increasing tension. “You always believe that you will be successful,” says Gislason with a smile in the NDR sports club. “And ultimately I’ve become a lot more relaxed over the years.”

Alfred Gislason: Beware of the dormant volcano!

Einar Jönsson knows that caution is still advised: “Alfred is very calm, but suddenly it erupts like a volcano.” They know each other well – the German national coach and the former Icelandic handball national team player, who now works as a television commentator. You would be happy to follow Jönsson when it comes to what he thinks are good chances at the home European Championships from January 10th to 28th, 2024. “Alfred always says: semi-final, medal – no matter who plays. That’s his claim.” And better yet: “Everything he touches turns to gold.”

Nice words for the 64-year-old, who knows ups and downs all too well – in sport as well as in life. He has overcome grief and suffering, found happiness again and now has his sights firmly set on perhaps his biggest challenge in handball: “The semi-finals would be a dream. But a European Championship is unforgiving; there are only good teams at the start.”

In March 2020 he became national coach as the successor to Christian Prokop – and not just for a few months, but to stay longer. His contract with the German Handball Association (DHB) runs until after the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. But as long as he has the feeling and is convinced that he can convey something, he will be happy to continue, says Gislason. “Handball won’t get rid of me so quickly.”

The national coach has learned to be more relaxed

Despite all the criticism, which, according to “Spiegel”, has recently increased in the background after less than edifying tournaments. The World Cup in Egypt 2021 brought a historically bad result with twelfth place. At the European Championships the following year they finished seventh. The World Cup at the beginning of this year was also interpreted in some places as a sign of faltering change, which Gislason denies on NDR: “We played a good World Cup in Poland and Sweden, came fifth with many young players who are now a year older and more mature and have gained experience.”

Gislason doesn’t dispute the criticism – at least that’s how it seems. He is resting within himself, more than before – he has put the bad time behind him with the death of his childhood sweetheart, to whom he was married for over 40 years, from cancer. “It was very difficult,” he says, visibly moved. “But you learn to be a little more relaxed about other things after such a long battle that is lost.” He actually wanted to slow down but realized: “Handball also keeps you alive.”

Relaxation with the family at home

A good life – for Gislason, who was born on September 7, 1959 in Akureyri in the north of Iceland, this is his home, the barren and at the same time beautiful country, the family, friends, children and grandchildren. The only thing he can happily do without is the ugly eight months of winter, he says.

He recently sought relaxation with his new love, the author Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir, at home on the island and had a good time with his large family. He allowed the NDR to take unusually private pictures, cool in the pool, racing in off-road races with his older brother Hjörtur: “We’re like little boys. We’ve always dueled each other before.”

“He’s explosive in many things,” says his partner, who helped him back to life a lot. “Alfred has good empathy, can recognize characters, wants to improve everyone and is therefore a really good trainer.” Who, in his own opinion, has a mistake: “Sometimes I have to be ashamed of how I imitate the movements of the players on the sidelines.” He is certainly not quite as relaxed at work as he was during his short vacation home. “Now I notice that I’m becoming more focused. In January I’ll be completely in a hurry and only think about handball.”

Final tests against Egypt

Actually, it is already like that. In a short preparation, international matches against Egypt are scheduled for November 3rd in Neu-Ulm and two days later in Munich. The finishing touches should be completed on three days between Christmas and New Year and then from January 1st. The experienced Paul Drux and Fabian Wiede from Füchse Berlin will not be there due to injuries; There is a question mark behind world-class goalkeeper Andreas Wolff after his slipped disc. Although he says: “I’m confident. But the important thing is that the body plays along.”

Without Drux, Wiede and Pekeler

“The goalkeeper is the most important man in handball,” Gislason is convinced. “Andy has done a lot for the team and was the best goalkeeper at the last World Cup. He has become more balanced; an absolute world-class goalkeeper who can help our team a lot.” While Gislason can still hope for Wolff, Hendrik Pekeler from champion THW Kiel finally canceled him a few days ago. The left foot that was operated on is still causing problems: “I didn’t want to disappoint the coach, but unfortunately I’m not as far along as I would like to be.”

EM as an opportunity for talents like Justus Fischer

A setback for Gislason: “We rejuvenated the team for two years and tried to stick together.” Pekeler, who he knows well from his successful times with the “Zebras”, will also be missed as a support for the young players. “He is a world-class player and is particularly important because he is so flexible, equally strong in defense and attack.”

His absence could be an opportunity for Justus Fischer (“The outstanding talent from TSV Hannover-Burgdorf,” said Gislason), who he had already nominated for the international matches against Sweden and Spain in April, his teammate Marian Michalczik or Frisch auf Göppingens Sebastian Heymann.

First medal in seven years?

The European Championship starts for the DHB team on January 10th, 2024 in Düsseldorf against Switzerland, followed by the matches against North Macedonia (January 14th) and France (January 16th). Gislason makes his calculations: “If we win the first two games and lose against France, then we can’t lose any more games to get to the semi-finals – normally.”

But this goal, perhaps even the first medal in seven years, stands in the way of high-profile players like “Spain, Iceland, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia or whoever comes along.” “So,” says Gislason, “we have to be very consistent.”

Don’t be afraid of a big stadium in Düsseldorf

Or as keeper Wolff puts it: “The further you get, the more unforgettable it becomes. The 2007 world champions will never forget what they achieved back then. We have to make sure we get into the tournament well, get into a flow and then Just make sure that we – supported by the fans – swim with this wave as far forward as possible.”

Or will the expected 50,000 spectators in the Düsseldorf stadium, where Fortuna usually plays in the 2nd Bundesliga, be more of a burden than motivation? “I hope for the interaction between the team and the spectators,” said Gislason. “After all, the field is just as big as in the hall.”

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Sports club | Oct 22, 2023 | 10:50 p.m