Handball Olympic qualification
Angry Gíslason drives German handball players to their opening victory
As of: 7:27 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
National coach Alfred Gíslason was not completely satisfied with the win against Algeria
Source: dpa/Swen Pförtner
Germany’s handball players are taking their first step towards the Olympics. In the ultimately easy victory over Algeria, the DHB team still revealed weaknesses. An increase in performance is necessary against the upcoming opponent Croatia.
Germany’s handball players fulfilled their mandatory task at the start of the Olympic qualifying tournament and celebrated an easy victory against outsiders Algeria. The team of national coach Alfred Gíslason, whose contract will only be extended until 2027 if they take part in the Olympics, won on Thursday in Hanover against the World Cup penultimate team 41:29 (16:13). In front of 10,099 spectators, Renars Uscins was the best thrower for the German Handball Association with ten goals.
Nevertheless, with the victory, the German selection prepared themselves for the more difficult tasks at the weekend. After a day’s break, the DHB team continues on Saturday with the duel against the Croatians trained by former national coach Dagur Sigurdsson. Germany lost at the European Championships at home to probably the strongest opponent in the group of four. On Sunday there will be a meeting with Austria, who were able to wrest a draw from the German selection in January.
“As Germany, we should try to win the qualification,” said U21 world champion Nils Lichtlein as a goal. Handball dwarf Algeria shouldn’t be a big hurdle on this path. Too many lack of concentration when trying to score, too big gaps in the defense: the African representative initially made things relatively easy for the DHB team.
Mandatory win: Germany’s handball players were in a scoring mood against Algeria
Source: dpa/Swen Pförtner
After a comfortable initial phase with a friendly game feel, the German selection became more and more on a roll. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff contributed a lot to the early five-goal lead (11:6) with impressive saves in his 150th international match. The starting point for good counter-attacks was the defense around the inner block duo Johannes Golla and Julian Köster, who had already impressed at the European Championships.
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After a convincing start, more and more mistakes crept into the German game. Backcourt giants Sebastian Heymann and Uscins missed several great chances, so that the lead shrank from seven to four goals (13:9) and later to three (16:13). Sports director Axel Kromer called the lead at the break “not really reassuring”.
Angry Gislason whips the DHB team
At the start of the second half, Gíslason relied on his regulars again and sent playmaker Juri Knorr onto the floor, among others. However, the German director was denied twice by the Algerian goalkeeper and the guests came within two goals (18:16).
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Gíslason raged on the sidelines and gesticulated wildly. The emotional Icelander’s reprimand worked and his team restored their old lead of six goals (25:19). The European Championship fourth-placed side now stabilized and took advantage of its chances more consistently in the middle of the second half.
Uscins turned things up in the final stages and gave Germany a ten-goal lead eleven minutes before the end. The eighth victory in the eighth duel with the Algerians was now assured. In the end the result was clear, but the German team still needs an improvement in performance against Croatia.
