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Dissatisfied: National coach Alfred Gíslason criticized the throwing quality of his team
Photo: Martin Rose / Getty Images
30 seconds left:
It was a nerve-racking game.
The last seconds of the opening game of the Olympic qualification were running, it was 24:25, the Swedish handball players were leading, but they failed to extend their lead.
In the past it was often the case that the DHB selection was left behind in these crucial final scenes.
That she was still forgiving victories, that she hadn't played clever enough.
Often enough she ended up with empty hands.
The goal:
Eight seconds before the final whistle, Philipp Weber increased the pace, he shifted the game to the right side.
His pass was almost intercepted, but the Swedish defender came a step too late, the ball landed at Julius Kühn, who put out on Marcel Schiller and the left winger threw the Swedish keeper Andreas Palicka through the legs.
Centimeter work.
Then you saw many cheering German players.
Result of the game:
The German handball players saved a draw in the last second, a draw that should feel like a small victory with the late rescue.
The game ended 25:25 (14:13) against Sweden, against the second in the World Cup in Egypt.
It was the first of three games in the Olympic qualification in Berlin, and it was probably the toughest duel.
A decent result, national coach Alfred Gíslason was relieved.
But he also said: "I am not satisfied."
The good phase:
With the many returnees, with top players like Hendrik Pekeler or Fabian Wiede, who were absent from the World Cup in Egypt six weeks ago, the DHB selection showed a strong performance in the first 30 minutes.
The bad impression of the World Cup, the historically bad twelfth place, wasn't much to see.
The DHB selection went into the cabin with a tour.
The phase that annoyed the national coach:
And it came back like a different one.
“It reminded me of Egypt again,” said Julius Kühn later, Gíslason became even more clear: “In this phase we take litters that we are not allowed to take.
These are throws without discipline. ”There was no more power coming from the back area (“ The back area couldn't cope, ”said Gíslason), mistakes increased, the goalkeepers weren't a factor for a long time.
But unlike in Egypt, the German team didn't fall apart.
It fought its way back.
Player of the game:
With every missed throw by the Germans, someone seemed to get better and better: Andreas Palicka surpassed himself.
The 34-year-old Sweden goalkeeper was one of the strongest during the World Cup and he was able to keep his form.
"We can't throw at him like that, he's too good for that," said Gíslason.
In the end he had 13 parades with 34 throws.
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Always one hand on the ball: Andreas Palicka has been playing for the Rhein-Neckar Löwen from Mannheim since 2016
Photo: LUDVIG THUNMAN / imago images / Bildbyran
The race to catch up begins with the rescue:
In the 50th minute, Palicka showed his most spectacular act: The Swedes had played without a goalkeeper in order to compensate for a time penalty in the attack with another outfield player.
But the German selection regained the ball and attacked via Johannes Golla, albeit far too slowly.
Palicka could be substituted again, sprinted from the bench back into the goal - and still fended off Golla's throw.
At that point it was 20:23.
Perhaps this last blatant miscarriage was something like the signal for the German handball players to start, but shortly afterwards they started to catch up.
Failure of the game:
At the World Cup in Egypt he scored 53 goals, he was the third best thrower of the tournament and was primarily responsible for the Swedes making it to the final.
But now Hampus Wanne was missing, the left wing of SG Flensburg-Handewitt had to leave shortly before kick-off for personal reasons.
His pace and goals were missed on the Swedish side in the closing stages.
Grandstand guest: He's
usually in goal, but national coach Gíslason preferred two other goalkeepers, Andreas Wolff.
He watched the game from the stands in the Berlin Arena at Ostbahnhof.
Wolff, who has always been one of two goalkeepers since the European Championship triumph in 2016, had recently given an overall disappointing performance at the World Cup in Egypt.
But he should play again against Slovenia.
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His goal brought the draw: In the end, everyone wants to celebrate with Marcel Schiller
Photo: via www.imago-images.de / imago images / MIS
At the back:
For Wolff, the duo Johannes Bitter and Silvio Heinevetter were on the record, together there were only six parades.
Bitter, however, chose a good time for his saves - he was the decisive man in the final phase with two throws fended off.
Outlook:
"We're still alive," was DHB Vice President Bob Hanning's conclusion after the game.
In addition to Sweden and the DHB selection, Slovenia (German opponents on Saturday, 3:35 p.m.) and Algeria (Sunday, 3:45 p.m.) competed in the Olympic qualification tournament in Berlin.
The two best teams go to Tokyo.
With the point against the probably strongest opponent, the German handball players have created a good starting position.
But: "Slovenia is going to be a real hammer," said Hanning.
The Slovenians also have a strong keeper, Urban Lesjak, and the German handball players will not be allowed to throw themselves against him without discipline.
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