The dream of Germany at a WM to represent has burst for them (at least for the time being) …
National coach Alfred Gislason (63) deletes Tim Zechel (26/HC Erlangen) and Lukas Zerbe (26/TBV Lemgo Lippe) from the DHB squad. This was announced by DHB sports director Axel Kromer (46) on Wednesday afternoon.
Golla plain text before the start of the World Cup
Challenge from our handball captain
Source: SID TV
Chrome: “Both of them will keep fit with their teams in Germany and develop further there and will then join the team in Katowice very quickly in the event that we want or have to make changes.”
Right winger Zerbe and circle player Zechel hardly played a role in the two tests against Iceland.
In the afternoon, the two left the team quarters in Barsinghausen and expressed disappointment in an interview with “handball world”.
Zechel: “So shortly after the announcement, I’m still a little sad. It (the disappointment, ed.) is of course big. Of course, everyone would have loved to play a big tournament. But it was only the first time I was preparing for a major tournament.”
The Erlangen professional Tim Zechel does not leave for Katowice on Thursday morning.
Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Kessler-Sportfotografie
Even for Bundesliga professional Zerbe it is not enough for the 16-man squad. He is also not on the charter plane from Hanover to Katowice on Thursday morning.
Right winger Lukas Zerbe had hoped for a place in Alfred Gislason’s squad but now has to head home.
Blow: “Of course I would have been happy if I had been allowed to fly to Poland. But well, Alfred had a decision to make. It was already communicated from the beginning that initially only 16 men would be flown to Poland. That’s why the national coach had to sort out two people – and unfortunately it hit me.”
Lukas Zerbe during the dress rehearsal against Iceland before the World Cup
Foto: picture alliance / Laci Perenyi
In the event of an injury to a teammate or a change in the squad, both are available for a team effort – keep fit with their teams.
Zerbe also says. “Of course I would be very happy if I could travel to Poland and then support the team on site. Does it happen? One does not know. But of course I would be happy.”
How did the eviction come about?
Gislason must have reported his squad to the International Handball Federation (IHF) by 8:45 a.m. on Friday morning. He also has to choose a 16-man squad for the games against Algeria and Serbia.
Germany starts the World Cup on Friday without Zerbe and Zechel, scores at 6 p.m in Katowice on Asian champions Qatar.
