Kiel (dpa) – Was that the real Andreas Wolff? The handball giant, almost two meters tall, who drives an opponent to despair with his parades.
His own reflexes, like the 34:26 in the first leg for the World Cup ticket against the Faroe Islands, stimulate him so much that he gets better and better afterwards. Just like in the glamorous final of the European Championship 2016.
Or is Andreas Wolff more of the national goalkeeper that he was in the years that followed? One with inconsistent performances that annoy him more than his coaches. A guy who not only shook his head in public, because he criticized his own teammates with research and thoughtless statements. Andreas Wolff could provide answers to these questions himself. But for some time now, the 31-year-old has rarely spoken to reporters after international matches.
Praise from teammates and coach
Others talk about it, and after Wednesday’s win against the Faroe Islands in Kiel they almost all said the same thing. “Andy held up great,” said captain Johannes Golla. “Andy Wolff held up very well,” said national coach Alfred Gislason. Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen, the opponent’s coach, said appreciatively: “Andy Wolff’s 18 saves were decisive.” In fact, before the second leg against the blatant outsider on Saturday (8 p.m. / zdfsport.de) in Torshavn, it can be said: Without the outstanding Wolff it would have been much closer.
The fact that the team is in the midst of upheaval became clear even against an internationally rather third-rate team like the Faroe Islands. In the defense headquarters, the agreements did not always fit, and there were (too) many technical errors in attack. If Wolff hadn’t repeatedly fended off the guests’ counterattacks with his parades, the pressure on the DHB selection would now be significantly greater. The ticket for the World Cup in Poland and Sweden in January now seems almost certain. Also thanks Wolff.
Steep rise after EM 2016
The fact that he had already shone with outstanding performances at the EM 2016 promoted his rapid rise. In the days after the tournament in Poland, Wolff was a sought-after man and he was happy to answer any questions. He willingly went on TV shows, had himself filmed in a fun duel with national soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer – and in the summer of 2016 he finally switched to THW Kiel. Everything seemed set for a great career. But with the record champions, Wolff never got beyond the role of number two. In 2019 he moved to the Polish top club Kielce.
There, too, he sometimes played outstandingly, sometimes less well and then again strongly. Similar to the national team. So who is the real Andreas Wolff now? Gislason said before the European Championships last winter that he had “grown up”. Wolff traveled to the tournament in good form and, as one of the most experienced players, he should be the backbone of the young team. Corona stopped him shortly before the end of the preliminary round. He couldn’t show what he was capable of anymore.