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National coach Alfred Gíslason: "Of course we want to reach the main round, but it won't be easy."
Photo: Tilo Wiedensohler / imago images / camera4 +
Handball national coach Alfred Gíslason is not open to speculation about a tournament surprise of his inexperienced team in view of the new staffing in the national team.
"We're not a candidate for a medal, that's why we're not talking about it," the Icelander told the German Press Agency.
“We'll concentrate on the preliminary group first, which is very even.
Of course we want to reach the main round, but it won't be easy. "
Germany will initially face Belarus, Austria and Poland in the men's European championship in Hungary and Slovakia (January 13th to 30th).
Gíslason believes that a group in which anyone can beat anyone: "But the Belarusians and Poles certainly have by far the greatest number of players who regularly play in the Champions League."
Alfred Gíslason has appointed nine tournament newcomers to his 19-man squad.
It is too early to predict the future of the new generation.
At the moment, the young team is still missing “a lot, especially in the backcourt”.
The missing superstars have to be compensated for by "team unity", said Gíslason: "I'm curious what we can do with this young team."
Hardly any time for regeneration
The 62-year-old does not see the national players concerned as the only ones to blame for the many European Championship cancellations.
“You have to take a differentiated look at that.” Because: In view of the high level of stress, the professionals employed by the top German clubs would have little time for vacation and regeneration.
»The past Corona season was already extreme.
So it's not just about the mentality and values of the players.
You also have to create the conditions for the players to deal with, ”said Gíslason.
As before the 2021 World Cup, some players canceled their participation for private reasons.
This had been criticized by DHB sports director Axel Kromer and some handball experts such as ex-national coach Heiner Brand and ex-national player Stefan Kretzschmar.
Gíslason has been advocating a reduction in the Bundesliga (HBL) from 18 to 16 clubs for a long time, which the majority of clubs reject for economic reasons.
"It's not for nothing that the Norwegian national coach is happy about each of his selection players who leave the Bundesliga," said Gíslason.
For future chances of success, the HBL must "create conditions that the players want to play for Germany permanently and for as long as possible and that we can always choose from among the best."
sak / dpa
