Without pressure, but with great ambitions, the German handball players go into the last main round game against the hosts from Denmark on Monday (December 11th, 2023). Antje Döll is already talking about a possible medal.
The minimum goal has been reached. With the victory against Serbia, the DHB team made it into the quarter-finals early and thus also secured a starting place in the Olympic qualification tournament. “We have achieved something really big,” said national coach Markus Gaugisch after the Sportschau game. Without pressure we now head to the highlight against Denmark.
Full hall against the hosts
The arena in Herning, Denmark, holds almost 15,000 spectators. It was almost full every time the hosts played, and the fans loudly supported their team. “Our goal is to get it very quiet very quickly so that our small German fan block can be heard,” says Emily Bölk. A small group of DHB fans, especially friends and family of the players, will mingle with the red and white crowd.
Alina Grijseels is not yet sure how big the Danes’ home advantage will be. “They are under more pressure at home than we are, and maybe we can use that to our advantage,” she hopes. Their use is currently still questionable. In the game against Romania, Grijseels suffered a bruised thigh and sat out the game against Serbia.
Complete package Denmark
The DHB team could really use their playmaker. “Alina is an absolute leader for us,” Gaugisch praised her, “but we don’t just have Alina who takes the lead.” Against Denmark it will depend on every single player. For the first time in this tournament, you don’t go into the game as favorites.
“We’re going to have a complete package,” warns outside player Antje Döll. “The Danes are well-rehearsed and have many world-class players in their squad.” They have a “strong defense” and their goalkeeping team with Sandra Toft and Althea Reinhardt is one of the strongest at this World Cup. In attack, they are dangerous both one-on-one and from the second row. The Danes have also already qualified for the quarter-finals. The game against Germany is about winning the group.
Eliminate errors
“We don’t have to win, but we can and we definitely want to,” says backcourt player Viola Leuchter. The Japanese showed that the Danes, who are among the “absolute favorites” for the title for national coach Gaugisch, can be beaten. The Asians won 27:26 on the first day of the main round.
The German team wants to imitate them: “If we want to survive against strong teams like Denmark, then the error rate has to be as low as possible. And our throwing effectiveness is of course particularly high,” said Döll. The German team showed this at times in the games against Romania and Serbia Significant weaknesses in attack, missed throws and bad passes.
New self-confidence
However, the players are unimpressed by these weak phases. “We dealt well with the negativity that we used to get,” says Xenia Smits, one of the most experienced in the German team. Before the tournament started, they worked with a team psychologist. “I’ve had good experiences with it and I see that it’s good for the team,” says Emily Bölk.
The DHB women radiate a new self-confidence and convey this to the outside world. “We are satisfied, but not yet satisfied enough,” said Smits. After reaching the quarter-finals, Antje Döll has her sights set on the next goal: “We want to play for a medal.” The highlight against Denmark is another step in this direction. After that, either Sweden or Montenegro will be waiting for the German team in the quarterfinals.
