IIn February 2016, the youth coaches wondered who suddenly wanted to play club handball. Throwing goals like Rune Dahmke, blocking throws like Finn Lemke, holding balls like Andreas Wolff: The national team had made the best publicity with the surprising title win at the European Championships in Poland; Handball was the subject of the break, new teams in childhood emerged all over Germany. It is also these thoughts about the boom of 2016 that make all those responsible for the German Handball Federation (DHB) supporters of the World Cup in Egypt. “We have to remain visible”, said DHB Vice Bob Hanning, “otherwise we will lose a whole generation.”
This is not an exaggeration, because sports games such as handball no longer take place in times of the pandemic, at least as part of regular mass sports. At least the professionals should play on the big stage – also to remind people that there is more than just football in the German sports landscape. Of course, (television) contracts have to be adhered to, and one of the association’s internal reasons for participating without protest notes is that the DHB would have isolated itself for years in the international handball landscape had it stayed away from the World Cup.
No matter how disheveled national coach Alfred Gislason’s selection of the Egyptian adventure may be, as controversial as a World Cup under the sign may be: When you approach the sporting prospects of the team, a lot looks brighter than a few weeks ago. 2016 protagonists like Wolff or Tobias Reichmann confidently recalled the European Championships in Poland, when the DHB arrived weakened, but rode the perfect wave after an opening defeat against Spain. A wide squad despite the cancellations, two or three aspiring backcourt players, plus experience and class in goal – if Gislason manages to close the gap in defense, the quarter-finals are a realistic goal.
The Corona issue remains in the luggage. It was also the vague circumstances of the rejection that brought goalkeeper Wolff to his misplaced criticism of the Kielers Wiencek, Pekeler and Weinhold who stayed at home: Problems with childcare? Doubts about the meaning of the World Cup? Fear of infection? Urgently necessary protection? The range of personal assessments of this World Cup is wide depending on age and marital status. Everyone should accept that.
Gislason backcourt player Christian Dissinger left the squad on Monday, weakened by six quarantine phases and his own infection. The young directors Marian Michalczik and Juri Knorr also suffered from the virus; Knorr reported an uncomfortable week in bed. Both are there. While Finn Lemke, head of defense in 2016, canceled – also because he did not get fit in time after two infections. The consequences and long-term effects of the virus will be discussed.
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