The second suit is also in place – DHB selection keeps its clean sheet
Germany outclasses Algeria at the end of the preliminary round – the highlights in the video
The German handball players gain self-confidence for the main round of the World Cup with a thumping victory over Algeria. Although numerous top performers are spared, the DHB team ended the preliminary round with a perfect record. The highlights in the video.
The German national handball team has also won its third preliminary round game. Against Algeria, the DHB selection spared numerous top performers, but still achieved a convincing and unchallenged success. Now it’s time for the main round.
Dhe German handball players have warmed up with their second guard for the main round of the World Cup. In the final preliminary round game, the DHB selection easily beat Algeria 37:21 (16:9) on Tuesday evening. In any case, the game was no longer of any sporting importance because Germany had already been the winners of the group.
It will be serious again for the team of national coach Alfred Gislason on Thursday: then the DHB selection will meet Argentina in their first main round game. Other opponents there will be Norway and the Netherlands. The best thrower of the German team in front of around 1000 spectators in Kattowitz, Poland, was circle runner Jannik Kohlbacher with ten goals. “It’s a win to build on. We scored 6-0 points, got the starting position for the main round that we had in mind and wished for,” said the player from Rhein-Neckar Löwen and added with a view to the upcoming games: “I’m there knit a little smaller and say we want to concentrate on Argentina first and do our homework there.”
Gislason had already announced before the game that he wanted to give many of his substitutes minutes. And the Icelander kept his word. From the starting line-up, only captain Johannes Golla, goalkeeper Andreas Wolff and Patrick Groetzki started the game – which is probably one of the reasons why the start was anything but perfect. Algeria took the lead early on, and the DHB selection missed some of the best opportunities on the offensive. Wolff didn’t really get into the game at first either.
Very relaxed: Germany’s coach Alfred Gislason (right) and goalkeeping coach Mattias Andersson
Quelle: dpa/Jan Woitas
But the 31-year-old, like the entire team, improved. In the course of the first half he parried numerous attempts by the Algerians. So the DHB selection steadily pulled away. The North Africans, who are at most third-rate internationally, had already been at the bottom of their group after two defeats. Nevertheless, they tried to say goodbye to the preliminary round. But the longer the game lasted, the more they dismantled.
Knorr, Mertens and Golla are rested
This gave numerous DHB players the chance to find their way into the tournament and build self-confidence for the tasks ahead. Gislason sent Djibril M’Bengue from Bergisches HC to the plate in the middle of the first half, the backcourt player hadn’t even been in action before. “We’re going into the main round with a lot of self-confidence and a good squad, where everyone showed what they can do in the preliminary round and gained self-confidence. Of course, the goal is the quarter-finals,” said Luca Witzke on “ZDF”.
In addition, left wing Rune Dahmke was allowed to play, and playmaker Witzke also got a lot of playing time. Established forces like Juri Knorr, Lukas Mertens or Golla, on the other hand, were largely spared for the next phase of the tournament. “We had many opportunities to bring players into the tournament and to protect others,” said DHB sports director Axel Kromer at halftime. “It’s going according to plan.”
That was also reflected in the second half. There was hardly any resistance from the Algerians and, unlike in the first few minutes, the Germans now used almost every one of their numerous opportunities. M’Bengue scored his first goals at this tournament, and Paul Drux also had his first goal.
And on the defensive, Joel Birlehm, who was strong against Serbia recently, proved that he forms a strong team together with Wolff. While Wolff was allowed to rest after the break, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen keeper fended off numerous shots from the Algerians. “I’m extremely happy about the performance of the second row,” praised the national coach: “The boys played very focused. Our biggest fear was that they would take the game a bit lightly. Above all, it was extremely important that the players who have had very little playing time up to now have all been able to play a lot and have played very well.”
