When the Handball World Cup starts for the German team on January 15th against Poland (8.30 p.m., live on Erste and in the live ticker at sportschau.de), the key players will be in demand: guys like Renars Uscins, Andreas Wolff, Julian Köster – and also Juri Knorr.
The captain of the team is someone else. But Johannes Golla is a constant as a pivot in defense and attack with incredible power, he rarely allows himself to break away downwards. If he performs at his usual top level, the basis for a successful German performance has already been laid.
At Golla, national coach Alfred Gislason knows what he is getting: leadership, reliability, the Flensburg native gives the team support and direction. But if the really big hit is to succeed, and that would be a medal in Denmark, Norway and Croatia, then the players who are capable of very special performances on certain days have to surpass themselves.
Renars Uscins is perhaps the greatest promise for the future of German handball. Of course also keeper Andy Wolff, who once again showed what extraterrestrial ideas he is capable of at the Olympic Games in Paris. Also Julian Köster, who enjoys a very special status at Gislason. And also Juri Knorr, who was considered one of the world’s greatest talents, for whom the pressure was sometimes simply too much.
Uscins wants to lead the team – even with arrogance
For the World Cup, Uscins has decided to perform a little differently than he did in France and before in his national team career – he wants to be more unpleasant and uncomfortable. In the “FAZ” he described it like this: “I want to be a bit of an asshole for my team. That’s how it has to be, you don’t want to have everything done to you.”
The U21 world champion doesn’t just want to stop at his amazing goals from the backcourt, but also as “Aggressive Leaders” go ahead: “There’s a fine line between self-confidence and arrogance. But I’ve decided to think that it’s not a bad thing if someone on the other team thinks I’m arrogant because of my demeanor.”said Uscins and added: “I can’t score ten goals in every game, but I want to make the team consistently better from game to game.”
Köster is particularly valued at Gislason
Gislason already relied on Köster when he was still playing in the second division with Gummersbach. The national coach doesn’t even talk about the special role of the backcourt player, who has fought his way back from a torn medial ligament in his knee: “Thank God he’s healthy again, reasonably healthy“, said Gislason, who particularly appreciates the Gummersbach captain’s intelligence, hard work and total dedication, including in defensive play.
Julian Köster from Germany throws at the goal.
Compared to the sports show, Köster now tried to take some pressure off his team after winning Olympic silver in Paris: “Expectations have of course increased. But it is not a given that we will end up in the top four again.”
Playmaker Knorr is a little out of focus
Knorr also plays a central role in Gislason’s system. The 24-year-old playmaker from the Rhein-Neckar Löwen has been struggling with illnesses and a broken thumb since October, but with a view to the World Cup this may not have such a detrimental effect: Knorr sometimes got breaks to slow down a bit .
It was often noticeable to him that the pressure of expectations placed on him was perhaps simply too great, which could be due to his outstanding performances at a very young age. Since the legendary rescue operation by Köster and Uscins seconds before the end in the Olympic quarter-final against France, when the end was actually already sealed, the focus has shifted somewhat from Knorr to his colleagues. That could be the key to a somewhat more liberated appearance for this outstanding handball player.
Wolff has become calmer – but ambitious as always
No matter how much the key players shine in the field positions, ultimately even more depends on a keeper in world-class form in the decisive games. He has proven often enough that Wolff can fill this role.
But Gislason sees another development with the former and future Kieler – also in the collaboration with the German number 2, David Späth. “Andi was an extremely hothead when I brought him to Kiel. He’s different now. He’s become much calmer, much more mature, more thoughtful,” says Gislason. Both are “extroverted types”always ready to help each other. “They complement each other well. Andi is clearly the first man. And David knows that he can start or come in at any time. This mix is great.“