This was a home game exactly as Renars Uscins wanted: The left-hander in the backcourt of the German national handball team scored ten goals and played a decisive role in ensuring that the Germans got off to an appealing start in the tournament for Olympic qualification on Thursday evening: 41:29 (16:13 ) won the selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB) against outsiders Algeria.
Uscins, who plays for TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, was the most dangerous German player, especially in the first half, and had already scored six goals in the 16:9 in the 27th minute. After that, however, the Germans had the usual annoying periods of weakness and allowed the North Africans to come close again until the break. “We definitely have to improve over 60 minutes against Croatia on Saturday,” said Uscins in front of the home crowd.
Determined offensive actions
What national coach Alfred Gislason’s team showed the 10,000 fans in the sold-out arena was only partially convincing. When the Icelander made a substitution in the first half, the momentum was gone. And after the break, when the main seven around Juri Knorr and Julian Köster appeared again, the sleepy German defense allowed the Algerians to get within two goals at 18:16.
But Köster (a total of five goals) with some determined offensive actions and Andreas Wolff’s saves sent the Germans towards victory – at 26:19 in the 45th minute the resistance faded. Gislason exchanged and his now lively team, with an unusual formation, achieved great success against faulty Algerians.
Frank Heike, Magdeburg Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5 A comment from Frank Heike Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 3 Christian Kamp, Cologne Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2
The frequent players around captain Johannes Golla (seven goals) were allowed to rest. It continues in the “everyone against everyone” mode on Saturday (2.30 p.m. on ZDF and Dyn) against Croatia, before the Austrians wait on Sunday (2.10 p.m. on ARD and on Dyn) – the two best teams reach the Olympic handball tournament Lille and Paris.
