Status: 15.01.2024, 14:00 PM
By: Melanie Gottschalk
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The DHB team has already qualified for the main round. With France, however, the first real gauge awaits on Tuesday (16 January).
Frankfurt – The minimum goal of the main round has been reached! In the clear 34:25 victory of the DHB team against North Macedonia, the Germans again delivered a good performance. This time almost unstoppable: Juri Knorr. The 23-year-old has already become a playmaker at the 2023 World Cup and will also show how important he is for the team led by national coach Alfred Gislason at the 2024 European Championship on home soil. But the "young savages" also give it their all.
DHB team wins confidently against North Macedonia: "Very successful performance"
Jan Immel, European Handball Champion in 2004, is of the same opinion. He says: "The roles in the DHB team are exactly assigned and that fits." After the successful performance of the Germans, the now 47-year-old spoke to IPPEN. MEDIA on...
... the match against North Macedonia: "I warned against North Macedonia because it was more or less their last chance. They are an unpleasant opponent and play a lot with the seventh outfield player, which they did against Germany. But I think Germany started the game really well, even without a great goalkeeping performance from Wolff. The defensive performance was good and they immediately took advantage of North Macedonia's mistakes. Later it was a relatively big show and everyone was allowed to have a go. The cornerstone was the first half, although the Germans should have led by eight or so. Alfred Gislason also mentioned that he was not entirely satisfied with this. I think it's good that everyone got their chance, Alfred is doing a great job. He keeps changing and giving people breaks. Of course, it's easier against these opponents, and we'll see what happens on Tuesday against France. Alfred always reacted tactically, when the North Macedonians were equal, the Germans immediately went for a 3-2-1 in the second half, because he wanted to make this second defensive variant tournament-proof. From my point of view, he changed the goalkeeper for the right reasons, Juri Knorr played outstandingly and had everything well under control and everyone else got their playing time. Of course, there are always lights and shadows, but if the game is so clear in the end, who cares? It was a very successful performance."
In 2004, the DHB team was crowned European Champion with Jan Immel. © Editor/imago
DHB playmaker "Man of the Match": "He's matured unbelievably"
... Juri Knorr and the question of whether he can withstand the pressure: "I think so. He has matured unbelievably with the Rhein-Neckar-Löwen and has taken a good step forward. He is a bit North German: unagitated and not someone who puts himself in the limelight. In general, you get the impression that the mix is right in the German team. They all get along well and I think they do a lot with each other off the record. You can tell. There is no one who sees himself as something better. There is a hierarchy in the team, Golla is far ahead, Häfner, Knorr, Kastening and Wolff. Maybe Kohlbacher. The rest follow suit. The roles are precisely assigned and that fits."
Juri Knorr had every reason to laugh after the match against North Macedonia. The DHB star delivered an outstanding performance and was voted "Player of the Match". © Jan Huebner/imago
... "Of course, it's good that these four boys played the World Cup in their own country in front of a large crowd last summer. They are young and carefree – and probably also very grateful, because probably no one expected to be there. This kind of gratitude helps them and they say to themselves: I'm giving everything here now. For a young player who has already played twice, it might be a different story. He may already have his own standards, while the four of them are simply happy to be there. For an athlete, there is nothing better than a big tournament in your own country. Especially if it is set up like in Germany, with the record game and the full halls. That's why they're just happy to be there and will do a hell of a job and make demands. Of course, something like that is good for a team when everyone fulfils their role."
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DHB team on the verge of first "real yardstick" against France
... the last group game against France: "You want to take the points into the main round, that's very important. And above all: If the Swiss win by five or six and the Germans also win by four or five, then the advantage of the French may be gone and it goes into a direct comparison. For the Germans, however, it would be best if they won by a narrow margin. Then the DHB team takes the full points and the French then have to win in the main round against an opponent who is at the top in terms of points - such as Croatia or Spain. These are all teams where you say: if you can put them behind you, you have a chance of reaching the semi-finals. I'm sure Alfred will think the same way. Of course, you also gain confidence when you play well against France."
Next DHB opponent France: "Are able to pay for themselves"
... Switzerland's draw against France: "The Swiss played with a seventh outfield player for almost the entire time in order to throw the French defence, which is otherwise very massive, out of step. They solved that very well. With André Schmid, you have someone who can implement this well, but Juri Knorr can do that too. At the same time, however, it must be said that the French are always in a position to shell themselves out. In the last few tournaments, it was always the case that they weakened a bit at the beginning. And the French are really brutal from the occupation." (msb)