Qualification – “It cost a lot of nerves”: Handball players secure a World Cup ticket

Torshavn (dpa) – The German handball players celebrated their ticket to the World Cup with a little dance. Despite a performance that was anything but sovereign, the DHB selection jumped arm in arm across the pitch in Torshavn.

In the 33:27 (15:16) success on the Faroe Islands, however, the team of national coach Alfred Gislason revealed astonishing problems, especially in the first round. “It was quite nerve-wracking because I was extremely upset in the first half,” said Gislason. “We played better in the second half and brought it home with confidence.”

The DHB selection had also won the playoff first leg against the clear outsider 34:26. The best pitchers of the German team this time in Torshavn were Luca Witzke and Lukas Mertens with five goals each. “A successful voyage thanks to the win,” said Captain Johannes Golla. “Our goal was to go to the World Cup. Our goal was to win both games. But we have to admit that not everything was perfect.”

No brilliant performance

This allows Gislason to plan for the World Cup in Poland and Sweden in early January, but with a view to the finals, the DHB selection must increase. A brilliant performance was again not delivered. As in the first leg, there was a lack of successful agreements on the defensive, especially in the first round, and technical mistakes were made again and again in attack.

The internationally rather third-class hosts even went into the break with a lead thanks to the loud support of the 1750 spectators. Hardly anything went together in Gislason’s team. “We have ourselves to blame for creating this cool atmosphere,” said backcourt player Julius Kühn.

Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who was outstanding in the first leg in Kiel last Wednesday, also remained rather inconspicuous this time. In the second half, substitute Till Klimpke came into the goal. Germany had found its way into the game relatively confidently. But despite an early three-goal lead, things got tighter after a good ten minutes: the Faroe Islands regularly found gaps in the inadequate German cover, and the DHB selection missed good opportunities at the front. And in general, the German team seemed unsettled at times by the noisy crowd in the small hall.

Faroe team runs out of air

It only got better when the strength of the hosts slowly subsided. In addition, Gislason’s team managed to exploit the increasing weak phases of the Faroe Islands more consistently. Not every throw went into the goal, but the longer the game lasted, the clearer the favorite sat down. Now it was also quieter in the hall because the own team was visibly running out of breath.

Gislason now varied in defense and put second division professional Julian Köster at the top of the defensive formation. Other youngsters from his team were also used. It was the last experiments for several months. The DHB selection will only contest the first tests with a view to the World Cup in October. One thing is already certain: Gislason still has work to do.

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