Last updated: 15.01.2024, 05:11 a.m.
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National coach Alfred Gislason (r) clapped hands with Renars Uscins (l) after the game. © Sören Stache/dpa
Germany plays itself into a handball frenzy and, after Switzerland, also rolls over North Macedonia. The ticket for the main round of the European Championships has been booked. Now the record world champion is waiting.
Berlin - Germany's handball players did their lap of honour for the party classic "Celebration" after the second convincing European Championship victory. Then the La Ola wave swept through the sold-out Berlin cauldron. The DHB selection has further fuelled the European Championship euphoria in their own country and made the early entry into the main round perfect. The team of national coach Alfred Gislason celebrated the second sovereign preliminary round victory with a 34:25 (18:13) against outsider North Macedonia on Sunday in Berlin and further fueled hopes for a successful medal mission.
"It's insane what handball Germany is doing here. It's phenomenal and contagious. We want to win every game," said Jannik Kohlbacher on ZDF and Nils Lichtlein added: "That's what you dream of. I hope it will continue like this. We're a cool bunch."
In front of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who was whistled by many of the 13,571 spectators during his introduction, playmaker Juri Knorr was the best scorer for the DHB selection with ten goals. Knorr was also named the best player of the match. National coach Gislason was satisfied after the game: "We have become more stable. We have to keep it that way." He particularly liked the second half.
At the end of the preliminary round, Germany will face record world champions France on Tuesday. A draw is enough to win the group. The Olympic champion had previously blundered in his second preliminary round match and had to settle for a 26-26 draw against Switzerland. "We want to play our game. Even though we are at the top of the table, the French are clear favourites," said Gislason. After that, the DHB team, which dreams of reaching the semi-finals, will continue in Cologne.
Papa Häfner is missing
"It feels like it's starting all over again," said DHB sporting director Axel Kromer before kick-off, referring to the unusually long four-day break since the opening win against Switzerland. The national coach, on the other hand, warned against the "irrepressible will and emotionality" of the opponents from the Balkans. The concern was unjustified.
Without Kai Häfner, who had just become a father for the second time, for whom U21 World Champion Nils Lichtlein moved into the squad, the DHB team took the fight brilliantly from the first second. The defence with the central block duo Johannes Golla and Julian Köster was stable and hardly opened up any gaps for North Macedonia. At the same time, Germany successfully played out their counter-attacks via left winger Lukas Mertens and quickly led 5-2.
Kromer praises the tempo game
Gislason had set his team up excellently for the refinements of the opponent. In defence, the Balkan team operated with different systems, while in attack, the underdog often relied on the additional seventh man. In coach Kiril Lazarov, the star of the team was on the sidelines. The former professional handball player is the best thrower in World Cup history and was the first player to score over 1000 European Cup goals. However, even he could not prevent the many technical errors of his men.
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And although Julian Köster initially missed some promising scoring chances, the German team played itself more and more into a frenzy. At one point, the lead was seven goals at 16-9. "We played a great tempo game," praised Kromer at half-time and said with a view to the aggressiveness: "Certainly we can do a little more in defence."
Gislason rages on the sidelines
The DHB team started with a 3-0 run after the break. Goalkeeper David Späth, who had moved between the posts for the hapless Andreas Wolff after 22 minutes, shone with several saves and really fired up the sold-out Mercedes-Benz Arena. Even a few careless mistakes in attacking play did not change that.
Gislason reacted with a timeout, raged and demanded more discipline at 22:17. The Icelander's speech worked and the DHB team extended its lead to seven goals again. Gislason now made a lively substitution and gave minutes to European Championship newcomer Martin Hanne and U21 World Champion Justus Fischer. Victory was no longer in jeopardy. The German European Championship Festival continues. Dpa