The German national handball team wins against Spain and is in the main round of the European Championship. Only big calibers are waiting for Alfred Gislason’s team there. But Germany is starting the hot tournament phase with a big advantage.
Germany’s handball players prevented a historic preliminary round exit from the European Championships. Instead of going home, Alfred Gislason’s team will go into the main round after beating Spain 34:32. And as group winners. Thanks to first place in the preliminary round, the team takes two plus points into the main round.
The victory, which was fought with a lot of passion, also secured the national coach’s job for the time being. If Gislason, whose contract is valid until after the 2027 World Cup, had failed for the first time in the preliminary round, it would hardly have been possible to keep him in office. The 66-year-old Icelander can now gather arguments for himself as the tournament progresses.
“I’m relieved and very proud of the boys. They played outstandingly. We had a plan to spread out the playing times more. It would be almost impossible to reach the semi-finals without the two points. Now we’re facing extremely tough opponents,” said Gislason, who also responded to Juri Knorr’s criticism after the defeat against Serbia: “I had no problem with Juri at all. Everyone in the team should say their opinion.”
“Brutal boards. It’s happening in quick succession”
In the main round, Germany will face the big tournament favorites Denmark, France, Norway and Portugal or North Macedonia. “We had faith in ourselves. We are through as group winners, after two good games and one bad game. But we still have a lot to do better. Today, a lot of what we prepared worked. It’s going to be tough now. It’s going to be tough tasks,” said captain Johannes Golla.
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Justus Fischer, who took turns with Golla at the circle, also has great respect for his opponents in the main round: “We’re facing brutal boards now. It’s quick and easy, so we can really use the two points.”
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