Bratislava (dpa) – For the German handball players, the wait is over. In the first preliminary round game against Belarus, the newly formed DHB selection wants to get off to a good start and gain self-confidence for the further course of the finals in Hungary and Slovakia.
“We’ve waited a long time. The boys are happy that things are starting now,” said national coach Alfred Gislason before the game on Friday (6 p.m. / ARD) in Bratislava.
Form:Whether player or coach – everyone emphasizes how good the almost two-week preparation was. But that doesn’t count anymore. “We trained well and had a lot of fun. But now the reality is there. It’s exciting for me to see what’s to come,” said the national coach. After all, there are eight tournament newcomers in the 17-man squad. Gislason’s wish: “We have to get over our nervousness quickly.”
The opponent:Although Belarus is not one of the top addresses in European handball, it has many seasoned players with plenty of Champions League experience. “There’s absolutely no reason to underestimate them,” warned Gislason. Artsem Karalek is the star of the team coached by Yuri Shevzow, who once worked in the Bundesliga for many years. The circle runner plays at the Polish top club Vive Kielce with DHB goalkeeper Andreas Wolff.
The initial situation:In addition to Belarus, Austria and Poland are the German preliminary round opponents in Group D. The top two reach the main round. “Starting the tournament with a positive result is extremely important for the further course,” said Gislason. “So our goal is to win the game.”
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