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Handball World Cup 2021: DHB selection loses against Hungary

2021-01-19T22:26:07.414Z


The defense is a construction site, captain Uwe Gensheimer only second choice, decisive chances left behind: The German handball players are under pressure early on at the World Cup.


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The DHB selection must fear early at the World Cup

Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / POOL / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

Cheers of the game:

"No goal now, folks," shouted the German bank in the World Cup hall in Giza.

The Hungarians were attacking, they were leading 15:13 and the last seconds of the first half were running.

It was a moment that can be very decisive in handball: Either it's 16:13 and the opponent takes a comfortable lead into the break.

Or the ball is fended off ("No goal now") and - with a little luck - you can even hit the next goal in return.

It happened like this: The Hungarians put their attack next to the goal and shortly afterwards Fabian Böhm met for the German handball players to connect.

A real encourager.

The DHB selection cheered as if they had won this game.

Scene of the game:

Some time later you saw handball players dancing, but it was the Hungarian ones.

Four seconds before the end of the game at the World Cup, Meta Lekai had positioned himself, defensive boss Johannes Golla was still trying to grab him, Sebastian Firnhaber and Paul Drux were too far away - and, as so often on this evening, the gap was much too big .

Lekai scored and the Hungarians had cause for joy.

Result of the game:

A lot was said about Corona at the controversial World Handball Championship in Egypt.

But also about the fact that the German team still has to find each other in defense after a few World Cup cancellations.

Hungary took advantage of this weakness, won 29:28 (15:14) and moved into the main round of the finals with four points.

The DHB selection takes two points and the realization that the new defense at this level is reaching its limits.

"We have to get a much better inside block in the main round," was the conclusion of DHB coach Alfred

Gíslason.

The prospects for the quarter-finals have worsened with this evening.

Corona update

: Due to several corona cases among the handball players from Cape Verde, the game against the DHB selection on Sunday could not take place.

Two days earlier, however, last Friday, the team from Africa had played against Hungary - and at this point in time, the first outbreak in Cape Verde was known.

There was a possibility that the virus could have been carried through that game.

However, a few days have now passed and, according to the IHF, there has been no positive case in the Hungarian selection at this World Cup.

Never tired Hungarians

: The Hungarians had let off steam at 44:18 over Uruguay on Sunday, but you couldn't find any lack of freshness in them.

They rather got going, threw themselves into every duel and had to survive several minutes in the first half due to time penalties.

Hungary managed it pretty well, the strong Roland Mikler in goal (ten saves) and front runner Bence Bánhidi (eight goals) were the defining figures.

Bánhidi, in particular, revealed the German weaknesses.

Counted:

Uwe Gensheimer had insufficiently used his chances in the first game against Uruguay, Gislason had even criticized him publicly and was now on the bench.

Gensheimer is actually a safe bet: 189 internationals, 920 goals, he is the captain of the selection.

But, Gíslason found in the ZDF interview before the accusation that the second left winger in the squad is now on "eye level" with the 34-year-old: Marcel Schiller, 29, from Frisch auf Göppingen, who is a killer especially when it comes to the seven-meter throw.

He was one of the most accurate of the evening.

His teammates, especially Timo Kastening (two goals in five throws) and Kai Häfner (three out of seven), on the other hand, missed many opportunities.

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Formerly at THW Kiel, since March at DHB: Alfred Gíslason

Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP

The new

guy starts

talking:

The topic of time-outs was recently a tiresome one in the DHB selection.

During the TV broadcast, every word can be overheard, and Gíslason's predecessor Christian Prokop put every word on the gold scales: Former German handball stars repeatedly accused him of being too pedagogical and too complicated to address.

When Prokop couldn't think of Timo Kastening's first name during a break at the EM 2020, an audience of millions noticed, and Prokop couldn't get rid of this unpleasant note.

The Icelander Gíslason looks different, not more innovative, just less cerebral.

To some he just says: "Hey, you there" and: "We have to play more aggressively." Easier said than done.

Outlook

: The next and first of three games in the main round is already groundbreaking for the German team: The European champions from Spain are waiting on Thursday.

The Spanish selection has not yet convinced at this final round, the victory against Poland was narrow, against Brazil there was only one draw.

But the Spaniards, as you also know, are experienced, they have been playing together for years, are outstanding at the circle and they have the big stars at their disposal at this finals.

An even greater task than Hungary awaits the German defense.

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Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-01-19

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