DHB team finishes World Cup on historically poor 12th place

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Coach Alfred Gislason doesn't seem particularly satisfied

Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / dpa

Disappointing end to a historically bad World Cup: The German handball players ended the World Cup in Egypt with the lowest ranking in their international match history.

The harmless DHB team of national coach Alfred Gislason did not get more than 23:23 (11:12) against Poland and thus only ended the World Cup in twelfth place.

»The Polish goalkeeper was not wrongly named Player of the Game.

We weren't quite as calm as we were last time, "said captain Uwe Gensheimer in the ARD and summed up:" In the tournament we improved our attack extremely.

We still have room for improvement in cover. "

The selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB) missed the tournament goal of the quarter finals prematurely on Saturday.

The defeats against Hungary (28:29) and Spain (28:32) were too much.

In the terrifyingly flawed game against Poland, the unofficial squad show for the Olympic qualification in spring, the German exploitation of opportunities was once again poor.

Schmidt and Weber best throwers

Even four goals from the best German throwers David Schmidt and Philipp Weber were not enough to win the main round in the New Capital of Egypt for the DHB team, which is now focusing on the Olympic Games next summer.

In Tokyo, the DHB is still aiming for the gold medal despite the sobering performance at the controversial mega-tournament on the Nile.

However, Germany still has to secure a ticket for the Games at an Olympic qualifying tournament in March.

That should be anything but a sure-fire success against Slovenia, Sweden and Algeria.

"The Olympic tickets are neither raffled nor given away," said DHB Vice President Bob Hanning of the FAZ.

The DHB selection does not play a game until qualification.

Gislason viewed the game on Monday evening against the Poles, who also had no chance of making it into the knockout round, as a test under competitive conditions.

Nonetheless, winning was the top priority.

The German cover for returnees Andreas Wolff in the goal was still quite well in the game.

In the attack, however, it clearly failed.

Poland's goalkeeper Adam Morawski had a strong day, counter-attack goals from the last criticized captain Uwe Gensheimer ensured that the deficit did not become too big - in the first half it grew to three goals in the meantime.

"That was certainly the most insecure and weakest half in the tournament," said DHB sports director Axel Kromer critically at the break.

However, Gislason also diligently exchanged staff.

David Schmidt was able to prove himself in the backcourt as well as youngster Juri Knorr in the playmaker position.

"Damn it, we made four technical mistakes in a few minutes - and one more stupid than the other," grumbled Gislason during the time-out when his sloppy team was four goals behind for the first time shortly after the restart (37th).

Germany stalked its way, but continued to act far too naively in its own conclusion.

In the final phase, keeper Wolff saved at least the draw with a save.

In the morning, the DHB selection from Cairo travels back to Cologne.

There is not much time to breathe: the Bundesliga will resume operations in the coming week.

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aha / sid