With the first course after the Corona EM, the selection of the German Handball Association (DHB) starts in preparation for the World Cup play-offs. The national coach radiated a lot of enthusiasm and fresh energy for the restart of the German handball players after the chaotic Corona EM.
“We want to continue where we had to stop. Unfortunately, the team didn’t stay together for long due to Corona“, said Alfred Gislason: “It was really a shame that Corona hit us so early, because we were on a very good path. Of course we will continue to rely on this squad.”
Four cancellations for Gislason and the DHB team
But the upheaval after the EM is bigger than expected anyway. A quartet was missing from the first training session on Monday (03/14/2022) in the sports school in Kamen-Kaiserau. The backcourt players Sebastian Heymann, Djibril M’Bengue, Philipp Weber and Kai Häfner had to cancel their participation. Gislason nominated middle man Juri Knorr and left-hander David Schmidt for this. The course started with 17 players, but further nominations cannot be ruled out.
Internationals against Hungary
Regardless of the staff, the work of the coming days should bear fruit in the international matches against Hungary on Saturday in Gummersbach and Sunday in Kassel. “This is a strong team that has gotten better and better over the past few years. Only at the European Championship did they not get going at all“said Gislason about the last test opponent before the play-offs for the ticket for the 2023 World Cup in mid-April against Faroe Islands.
The European Championship in January, in which the German team had a total of 16 corona cases and therefore had no chance in the fight for a medal, has been processed and ticked off. “We want to get back on track and hope that we can take a step forward quickly because we already have the next events in mind“Emphasized DHB sports director Axel Kromer.
Gislason has to build a new defensive block
Regardless of the next opponents, Gislason wants to focus on developing the team further,”because what we do is much more important“. This also includes the formation of a new defensive block after Kiel’s Hendrik Pekeler and Patrick Wiencek, who recently announced his retirement from the national team, are no longer on board.
“The point is that as many players as possible can occupy these positions with the same high quality“said the national coach: “We will need several players to form the inner block, not just a duo like we had with Hendrik Pekeler and Patrick Wiencek.”
Pure defense specialists are no longer in demand. “The trend of the top players from the top nations playing front and back is clear. Look at France or Sweden. It doesn’t make sense,”if a player only tills half the field“, Gislason described the requirement profile. One of the candidates is newcomer Tim Zechel from HC Erlangen.
Mävers before international debut
Veit Mävers can also hope for his international debut. The playmaker from Bundesliga club TSV Hannover-Burgdorf was already in the extended squad for the European Championship, but was not on the plate for the finals. “He is intelligent, dangerous and a completely different type of player than the other middle players. I’m very excited about his performances in the national team‘ Gislason said.
Source: sid/dpa