After the two most recent test match victories against Portugal, Sportschau handball expert Dominik Klein is confident that the German national team can play a very good role at the home European Championships.
“You could tell that the boys are excited for this European Championship, and now it’s important to take the momentum with them and, above all, ride the wave so high that the world record game against Switzerland ensures that Germany makes it to the main round and much further can come”says Klein in an interview with Sportschau.
Most recently, national coach Alfred Gislason’s team won two friendly games against Portugal, 34:33 and 35:31. On Wednesday (January 10, 2024), the German team will play against Switzerland at the start of the European Championship in the Düsseldorf Football Arena. Other opponents in the preliminary round are France and North Macedonia.
German team already “well-rehearsed”
Klein sees the German team’s strength as the fact that the current formation, including the goalkeeper, is now “rehearsed” be. And the national coach still has plenty of options: “Alfred Gislason can pack a wide variety of tools together.” Klein also trusts the team to “to improve during the tournament”.
Knorr will “help a lot”
Juri Knorr could be the decisive man for success. “He will help the team a lot with his wit and his quality in finishing.”explains Klein: “But the national team doesn’t just consist of one player. Team success can only come from the spirit that the 17th or 18th man brings in.”
“The boys want more”
And what’s in it for the German team at the home European Championship? “If the national team manages to get the whole of Germany behind them with enthusiasm and passion and unconditional cooperation on and off the pitch, then the ranking almost doesn’t matter.”he says former national player: “The main thing is that we show that handball is an awesome sport.”
Klein sees Germany among the last four teams in the end: “We want to develop further compared to the last tournament, which finished fifth in the World Cup. And the boys want more.”