Icon: enlarge
Alfred Gíslason and his bank celebrate themselves against Slovenia in a frenzy
Photo: ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS
They were in a hurry:
it was a fast game in the fight for the Olympic qualification, and between the ninth and 17th minutes, in those eight minutes, the German handball players had particularly pressed the pace.
After winning the ball, it was lightning fast to the other side, there were many ball wins, a good positional play of the defense and strong saves by Andreas Wolff - in these eight minutes the DHB selection threw eight hits.
The day before, the German handball players had made it exciting against Sweden with an equalizer in the last second, but against Slovenia they were already in the lead with six goals after 17 minutes.
Result of the game:
And the lead increased, this time the German express train was unstoppable.
No break-in, no quarrel, no weak phase against Slovenia, which came ninth at the World Cup in Egypt, Germany only twelfth.
It was an almost perfect game, with a slightly weaker second half, but that didn't matter.
The break at the qualifying tournament in Berlin was 22:12, and it was 36:27 at the end.
Is that enough for Tokyo?
A final game against Algeria (3:45 p.m.) is still waiting on Sunday, and the DHB selection has not yet been finally qualified for the Summer Olympics.
But the qualification, after a win and a draw against the strongest opponents, is on the famous silver platter.
The man you trust:
Coach Alfred Gíslason looked particularly relieved after the game, and then that was one of his first words he chose on ZDF: "A great relief that we played like this." Gíslason succeeded him a year ago Started by Christian Prokop, Prokop had no longer trusted the DHB leaders to qualify for the Olympics.
Gíslason came into the job with a lot of experience, also with a lot of advance praise.
It is not yet possible to give the Icelander a conclusion, and he has not yet qualified for the Olympics.
But there is a development under him.
At the press conference he said: "Today a burden fell off me."
The returnees:
There was often talk of the German inner bloc, which was missing in Egypt, and with it stability, the Kiel duo Patrick Wiencek and Hendrik Pekeler.
The fact that the Kiel duo is actually a trio that was missing from the World Cup six weeks ago became clear against Slovenia: Steffen Weinhold, the third player from THW Kiel, showed a strong first half.
He was accurate (three goals) and strong in cover, went long distances, he got time penalties (two in the beginning).
At 34 years of age, Weinhold was the veteran that the young German selection in Egypt would have needed as a leader.
The fans are missing:
In the 32nd minute you could hear the hall spokesman shouting loudly during the ZDF broadcast: "Andi!" He shouted into his microphone after goalkeeper Andreas Wolff had shown another parade (ten in total) on his strong afternoon.
Normally, almost 10,000 spectators in Berlin's Max-Schmeling-Halle would have answered the hall speaker that they had shouted "Wolff!"
But for almost exactly a year there has been a lack of fans in the halls due to the corona pandemic, and it will probably be a while before they are back.
Icon: enlarge
Andreas Wolff: He was one of the strongest on the field
Photo: Martin Rose / Getty Images
The men on the bench:
Uwe Gensheimer, 34 years old, and Wiencek, 31, are among the defining figures of the national team.
In the past they always played, but this time, in this important duel for participation in the Olympics, most of the time they sat wrapped up in a training jacket on the bench.
The relievers:
For Gensheimer (a total of 15 minutes in action) Marcel Schiller, 29, was given preference, for Wiencek (without a minute of action) Johannes Golla, 23, played;
and they both played well.
Strong teams are characterized by the breadth of the squad, so Gensheimer and Wiencek are still very important.
But Schiller and Golla are currently in the process of establishing a permanent place in the field.
Praise of the day:
first received Golla.
"He did a huge job," said Kai Häfner about the SG Flensburg-Handewitt player, and the national coach added: "The duo of Pekeler and Golla was simply great." But Gíslason then also said: "Wolff was outstanding, the attack also.
I am proud of all of them. "
Icon: enlarge
Johannes Golla: Got four hits and was strong at cover
Photo: Tilo Wiedensohler / imago images / camera4 +
Number 200:
Silvio Heinevetter was the second goalkeeper that afternoon, and in the 38th minute he came on for a seven-meter throw.
Dragan Gajič faced the German goalkeeper, and the Slovenian lifted the ball over Heinevetter.
It wasn't exactly the nicest present for Heinevetter, who played his 200th game for the national team against Slovenia.
Conclusion:
One thing is for sure, the German handball players are much better than they presented themselves in Egypt.
But are they so good that they can really play for the gold medal in Tokyo, as DHB Vice President Bob Hanning has aimed at?
This question is not answered by a game against Slovenia, more like duels like the day before against Sweden, the second in the World Cup.
There were weaker phases and bright spots there, the German handball players are on the right track, but many other nations among the world's best are doing the same.
And: the German handball players are not yet qualified either.
Icon: The mirror
