Juri Knorr has to distribute the balls pretty much alone in the German national handball team. Image: EPA
Leadership for the moment: The best handball teams no longer rely on the classic playmaker, but rather on a diverse distribution of roles. The European Championship shows what that can mean.
Generational conflicts have existed for ages. Young versus old and the resulting disputes – clothing, haircut, choice of music. Or in relation to the use of digital media: “This is Tiktok, you don’t understand it!” Exclusion is a principle. Another is silent protest. When the Danish backcourt player Simon Pytlick feels insufficiently showcased by the Swedish playmaker Jim Gottfridsson, only his facial expressions betray his dissatisfaction. Very rarely does he raise his forearms and spread his hands: Jesus, play with me properly!
Pytlick is 23 years old and is considered a future star in international handball. He is new to SG Flensburg-Handewitt and relies on Jim Gottfridsson’s passes. The Swede, highly decorated, eight years older, leads the SG attacks according to his own ideas. While Pytlick prefers speed and power, Gottfridsson plays standing up, with eye, cleverness and a sense of space. So far, this fits together moderately. Perhaps that’s why Pytlick plays so well at the European Championships because his Danes have a different understanding of their roles.
