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These three see each other on the DHB team: Hendrik Pekeler from Kiel (r.) And Patrick Wiencek in the block against Berlin's Paul Drux
Photo: Dirk Reps / imago images / Reps
Handball national coach Alfred Gíslason can again fall back on his "Kiel block" and thus on his best line-up in the Olympic qualification.
When the German national team plays for the qualification for the tournament in Tokyo from March 12th to 14th in Berlin, the top performers Hendrik Pekeler, Patrick Wiencek and Steffen Weinhold from the German record champions and Champions League winner will be there again.
“These are three players who have been playing together in the cover network for a very long time.
This gives us another inner block that is one of the best in the world, ”said Gíslason on Monday.
For the last World Cup in Egypt, the THW Kiel trio had canceled due to the corona pandemic, their absence became clear when they were eliminated in the main round.
The DHB team finished twelfth, the worst result in the association's history.
In the 19-man squad that Gíslason announced, there is also the backcourt player Fabian Wiede, who also failed at the World Cup.
"We have a lot more experience with it and a lot more breadth in the squad than at World Cup," said Gislason.
“Our clear goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The opponent and the program are a big task. I am convinced that with this line-up we are ready for this challenge. "
At the tournament in the capital, the DHB selection will meet the World Cup second Sweden, the EC fourth Slovenia and Algeria.
The first two teams qualify for the summer games, where the German team wants to play for the medals.
At least that's the DHB's target.
Without Lemke and Kohlbacher
Finn Lemke and Jannik Kohlbacher, on the other hand, are missing from the squad.
The defense specialist from MT Melsungen and the circle runner from the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, who have been a permanent fixture in the DHB team since the 2016 European Championship triumph, were left behind against Johannes Golla.
The 23-year-old from Bundesliga leaders SG Flensburg-Handewitt was one of the few World Cup winners to be preferred.
Unlike before the World Cup, Gíslason does not want to commit to a ranking when it comes to the goalkeeper question.
“First of all, I want to take a look at the situation with the goalkeepers.
We will then discuss intensively who does what, ”he said.
As in Egypt, he has the choice between Andreas Wolff and the experienced Johannes Bitter and Silvio Heinevetter.
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ptz / dpa / sid