Use in the quarterfinals?
World Cup hope Knorr back in the DHB team
Updated on January 27, 2025 – 1:37 p.mReading time: 4 minutes
In these World Cup days everything revolves around Juri Knorr for the German handball team. The playmaker now gives an update for the upcoming medal fight.
With a black scarf and fresh energy, Juri Knorr made his way to the German handball team’s World Cup quarters on Monday morning – the difference player gave the green light for the decisive games in Oslo. “The days have been good for me. I’m doing quite well so far. I’m ready for the quarter-finals, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” Knorr told the Sport Information Service (SID) before taking his seat in row 9 of the EW flight 7198 from Hamburg to Oslo and added: “It’s crazy.”
The playmaker missed the main round games against Italy and Tunisia due to illness and instead had himself examined in Flensburg. With pleasing results. “We did another blood test yesterday, the values are OK,” said the 24-year-old – and offered to help an older woman carry a suitcase on the gangway. Shortly after landing in Norway’s capital, he could take part in training again in the afternoon.
“We are in good spirits that we have more players to choose from on Wednesday than we had last time and that we can also compete with a full squad,” said national team manager Benjamin Chatton mysteriously in the team hotel, while Knorr was already in the air located. “We now have two more training sessions to find out exactly how it will be put together. That remains to be seen.” At the moment it is still too early to say.
“I am confident that he will join us, but that does not answer the question of whether he will be fit for action or whether he will be used on Wednesday,” said Chatton, specifically speaking about Knorr. “It has become clear in the last few games and tournaments that Juri is an important player for this team.” Nevertheless, it is up to national coach Alfred Gislason to decide who he will appoint to the squad on Wednesday.
In any case, national team colleague Timo Kastening was happy about Knorr’s return: “As a team, we know what qualities Juri has,” he said. “He is our head of the game up front in attack, he has an extremely high understanding of the game, coupled with the individuality that he brings with him. That’s why we are very happy that he will join us on Wednesday, no matter how many minutes it ends up being can lead to victory.”
Knorr’s teammates had already moved into their new World Cup quarters in snow-covered Oslo on Sunday. Full of enthusiasm and with the feeling that “the tournament is now really getting started”, as captain Johannes Golla put it with a view to the quarter-finals on Wednesday (from 8.30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online) against Portugal. Knorr is also brimming with enthusiasm: “The Portuguese have a strong team – but this is a great opportunity.”
In the past few days, no round of interviews went without a question about the Rhein-Neckar Löwen middleman. That alone underlines its importance for the fight for the first World Cup medal in 18 years. “He is a different Juri than he was three years ago,” said national coach Alfred Gislason in the last few days.
In fact, Knorr has improved its playful variability. The 1.92 meter man with the distinctive braid is no longer the sole entertainer, he thinks more often and better about the big picture, not only involves the pivots, but also his colleagues in the backcourt, and creates lots of space through clever play .
“It was always said that he doesn’t do anything for the backcourt players. But now he does an awful lot for the backcourt players,” said Gislason. Knorr benefits from the fact that the national team has a new star growing on his right side in Renārs Uščins. But also that there are definitely alternatives in the middle in Luca Witzke or Nils Lichtlein. They cannot replace Knorr.
Knorr is a sensitive handball player – one whose game can be significantly disrupted by external stress factors. It’s no coincidence that he leaves the Lions for Denmark in the summer. The move to top club Aalborg Handbold is intended to serve as a springboard – to a new sporting level and, no less important, out of the limelight in Germany.