At the qualifying tournament in Hanover, the German handball players want to get their ticket to the Olympics in Paris – and clear away the question marks about the home European Championships. What are the DHB team’s chances and how should the opponents Algeria, Croatia and Austria be assessed? ARD handball expert Dominik Klein gives answers.
It’s about the ticket for the Olympic Games, it’s about Alfred Gislason’s contract, which will only be extended if he successfully qualifies – and it’s about compensation. In January, the German national team only managed a lucky 22:22 draw against Austria. There was even a 24:30 defeat against Croatia at the end of the main round. Insignificant in terms of sport, the DHB team still made it to the semi-finals and ultimately came fourth.
“Development step confirm from the EM”
Nevertheless, the home European Championship, in which Germany won as many games as it lost (four each), casts its shadow on the upcoming qualifying tournament, says ARD handball expert Dominik Klein. “Austria and Croatia were two teams that couldn’t be defeated at the beginning of the year. That’s why I’m looking forward to seeing the German team confirm the development step from the European Championships and show that the year has really started positively.” The young German team could make a statement: “‘Hey, we belong in front of these nations.'”
Algeria – mandatory task at the start
At the start on Thursday (5.45 p.m.) Germany will face Algeria, on paper the weakest opponent. 14 months ago, the DHB team defeated the North Africans 37:21 at the 2023 World Cup. Algeria was only able to win the game for 31st place in Poland and Sweden and thus came second to last. Since then, the team has improved and reached the final of the African Championships in January (21:29 defeat against Egypt).
Algeria have lost their last 16 duels against European teams. So the optimal opening opponent? Klein: “Physically, such teams always have to be taken into account. Nevertheless, it is important for Germany to focus on itself and get back to its own game.” The biggest name among the Algerians is Ayoub Abdi, the 26-year-old backcourt player is moving from Toulouse to the French top club HBC Nantes in the summer.
Croatia – special reunion with Sigurdsson
Will there be revenge for the European Championship defeat against Croatia (Saturday, 2.30 p.m., live on ZDF)? The national coach rejects this idea and completely ignores the 24:30 from January. Germany was already in the semi-finals before the last game of the main round, Gislason rotated a lot and rested regular players. Now it could be about progress against the Croatians; for ARD expert Klein, the team around THW Kiel captain Domagoj Duvnjak is the strongest opponent. “They play with a lot of heart, emotions, unity. And now with Dagur Sigurdsson comes new energy, new know-how.”
The 50-year-old Sigurdsson has been the first foreign coach of the Croatian handball players since February, becoming Goran Perkovac’s successor after the disappointing European Championships – and giving up the already secure Olympic ticket with the Japanese national team. This is a special reunion for the Icelander with the DHB team, with whom he became European champions in 2016. “I was looking for a challenge, for an adventure, for someone with passion,” said Sigurdsson, for whom returning to Germany will be “great fun.”
Dagur Sigurdsson became European champion with Germany in 2016.
In Hanover, Gislason still estimates his compatriot’s influence as low: “I don’t think Dagur will turn everything upside down for the Croats in four or five days.” Klein believes that the proud handball nation could return to the top of the world as early as the summer: “With a view to the Olympics, this will be an exciting nation that can also compete for medals as a surprise candidate.”
Austria – a sworn unity with a big dream
The Austrians are dreaming of their first Olympic participation – and want to build on the great European Championships with the victory over Spain and the draw against Germany and Croatia. In the end there was eighth place, but coach Ales Pajovic’s team still caused euphoria in their own country. Long-time Bundesliga professional Robert Weber sees his team in Hanover facing a “Herculean task,” as he told ZDF. “Two favorites and an underdog with Algeria – and we are right in the middle.” Germany will face the Austrians in the last and possibly decisive game (Sunday, 2:10 p.m., live on ARD and at sportschau.de).
As in January, when Weber was even elected to the All Star Team, Austria is relying on “flow and team spirit”. Weber: “We can only win.” Nikola Bilyk from Kiel, one of the best players in the world at the moment, is putting on the Austrian jersey. “He is the hero for his nation, the top player, that gives him strength,” says ARD expert Klein. It will be crucial how quickly the Austrians can return from everyday league life to the team spirit of the European Championship, said Klein. “The game between Austria and Croatia right at the start on Thursday will be almost the most exciting thing you can see at this tournament.”
Klein: Home advantage and EM flow speak for Germany
With immediate consequences for the German team, after all, these are the two biggest competitors for the two Olympic tickets. Klein is betting that Germany and Croatia will go to Paris: “The constellation that Germany is playing at home and has the chance to achieve something really big and take this European Championship flow with them speaks for the German team. Croatia has with their new coach another emotional stimulant.”
For the young DHB team there is a lot at stake in Hanover: the next step in development and the jump to the biggest stage in handball, the Olympic tournament. If the qualification fails, the chosen path is in question – and the national team is left without a coach.
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Sports current | Mar 13, 2024 | 5:17 p.m