In the 56th minute of the game, David Späth stuck the stamp on his application letter. The national handball team led with 26:25 goals in the second test match against Egypt, and the African champions were on the verge of turning the game around. The Egyptians had already proven on Friday evening that the Olympic fourth-place finisher in Tokyo is one of the world’s best with a 31:31 draw at their first meeting in Neu-Ulm. In the Munich Olympic Hall, which was sold out with 10,911 spectators, the Germans were the better team and led by up to six goals at times (23:17/40), but in the final phase the Egyptians fought vehemently against the impending defeat. In addition to strong physique, they also showed high handball skills; The North Africans are led by former world champion coach Carlos Pastor and were an ideal opponent for this important position determination.
When, four minutes before the end, Yehia El-Deraa caught the ball in the air after a Kempa pass and sailed freely towards Späth, the German goalkeeper threw himself into the opponent’s throw and prevented the equalizer. It was probably the decisive save for the 28:27 victory in the last preparation game of the year, which was the final opportunity for coach Alfred Gislason to make impressions before he selected the squad for the home European Championships next year (10th to 28th) in December. January). He would then name 18 players, the Icelander explained quite grimly after the game, because, as in Neu-Ulm, his players had been too inattentive and had wasted a better result in the final phase.
“That annoyed me again on Friday and today,” grumbled the 64-year-old Icelander, while also admitting that his team “did a lot of things right.” He shouldn’t be able to get past goalkeeper David Späth, as the U21 world champion had made a good case for a nomination in his first two games in the senior team.
Andreas Wolff is in the German goal after recovering from an injury, but he will be rested in Munich
In Munich, Späth was on the floor in the first half and the final phase, with veteran Silvio Heinevetter, who was brought back by Gislason, in between – who clearly left a weaker impression. As expected, Gislason dampened the euphoria surrounding his goalkeeping talent from the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, who he attested to a “decent, but not very good performance”. Of course, the national coach doesn’t want to be pushed. In addition to the seeded Andreas Wolff, Späth’s chances have definitely increased.
Wolff is a cornerstone in the German squad, Gislason rested him in the second game after he got a few minutes of play in Neu-Ulm. It was the 32-year-old’s first appearance after his slipped disc, and now Wolff is supposed to get security from the Polish series champions Kielce in the league and Champions League.
And the national coach didn’t just get some interesting food for thought in the goalkeeper position: Timo Kastening, who was injured for almost a year and a half and missed the World Cup in Poland and Sweden in January, has returned as a fixed point at right winger and a reliable seven-meter taker. On Sunday evening, the 28-year-old from MT Melsungen was the best thrower with eight hits, Juri Knorr scored seven.
The playmaker once again emphasized that he is the heart and brain of this team. It was impressive to see what possibilities the 23-year-old director of cup winners Rhein-Neckar Löwen has at his disposal: Knorr determines the pace of the game, is extremely dangerous in front of goals without overlooking the better-positioned man next to him, has a good eye for the circle and is placed in defense.
The coach liked the defense best, as long as the initial line-up around the inside block Johannes Golla and Julian Köster were on the field. Gislason criticized the lack of width in this regard. The defense was in place, and the pattern by which the German team can overwhelm any opponent could be seen: after winning the ball from a strong defense, they immediately start playing at high speed. Either the fast outside are free – or Knorr is orchestrating the second and third waves.
More than 50,000 spectators are expected for the opening game – that would be a world record
Nevertheless, the team still made too many slight mistakes and weak finishes. “It was the first course in six months, there is still a lack of coordination,” explained left winger Lukas Mertens. What, according to Captain Johannes Golla, “was to be expected” – and gave indications of “where we are and what we need to work on.” In any case, it’s still not enough to secure a place on the list of European Championship favorites. These are defending champion Sweden, world champion Denmark, Olympic champion France and European Championship runner-up Spain.
Open detailed view
Everything in view: Playmaker Juri Knorr once again gave a taste of his great skills.
(Photo: Tilo WiedenSoler/Camera4+/Imago)
The home advantage is planned as an important building block for a successful performance for the hosts. More than 50,000 spectators are expected for the opening game in Düsseldorf, which would be a world record. The game in the Olympic Hall was not only an important test run from a sporting perspective, the German Handball Federation (DHB) is trying to ignite euphoria before the European Championships. This was a great success in Munich; the hall was already full during the women’s 29:24 win against Hungary in the afternoon.
There is a large handball community in southern Bavaria, but given the lack of professional handball for decades, there is also a certain lack of habit and therefore a keen interest in such competitions. According to Olympiapark GmbH, advance sales for the European Championship are going better than for the 2019 World Cup – even though the German team is playing its preliminary round in Düsseldorf and Berlin. The hall was already full back then; in January in Munich, top-class players such as Denmark, Iceland and Serbia were represented in the two preliminary round groups.
“The world knows that we can organize such a big tournament,” explained DHB President Andreas Michelmann. But as a host you are also emotionally great: “We always have full halls and a great atmosphere, even when Germany isn’t playing. That only happens in Germany.”
