Chaos half time against Croatia
German handball players are worried about their Olympic ticket
March 16, 2024, 4:03 p.m
Germany’s handball players are suffering a bitter setback in the fight for their Olympic ticket. National coach Alfred Gislason’s team lost to Croatia in the qualifying tournament in Hanover and is therefore under pressure before the last duel against Austria.
Cold shower against Croatia: Germany’s handball players have to worry about their Olympic ticket. The team of national coach Alfred Gislason lost the qualifying tournament in Hanover against the Croatian eleventh-placed team with 30:33 (10:16) and is therefore under pressure. After the 41:29 win at the start against Algeria, the German team now has 2:2 points.
If the selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB) loses against Austria on Sunday (2.10 p.m./ARD and Dyn), the Summer Olympics will probably take place in the summer without a German men’s team. The best German thrower on Saturday afternoon in front of 10,099 spectators was once again Renars Uscins with eight hits. Sebastian Heymann was shown a red card seven minutes before the end for serious foul play.
The decisive factor for the defeat was a very weak first half, the German team only woke up after the break and, driven by the strong Uscins, came within two goals. But the race to catch up came too late. Germany couldn’t get any closer than 24:26 (51′). “We only start to fight in the second half,” Uscins complained on ZDF: “We didn’t start the game well and let our heads hang in the first half.” With a view to the “final” on Sunday, the U21 world champion said: “Now it’s time to really get into the fight.”
“We have a bit of work to do well”
The Croatians, who have been looked after by former national coach Dagur Sigurdsson for several weeks, are almost certain of taking part in the Olympics with 4-0 points. The second matchday of the qualifying tournament will be concluded by Austria and Algeria (both 0:2 points). Only the best two teams are in Paris.
Almost two months after the 24:30 defeat against Croatia at the home European Championship, the German handball players had a lot planned. Coach Gislason, whose contract runs until 2027 only if the Olympic qualification is successful, spoke of “revenge”. And left-hander Christoph Steinert also said: “We have a bit of good to do. It’s good that we play with a bit of anger in our stomachs.”
But the DHB team started very nervously and, like at the European Championships, they despaired of Croatia’s keeper Dominik Kuzmanovic. Rejected seven-meter penalties and countless technical errors led to simple ball losses, which the European Championship eleven quickly took advantage of to take a 5-1 and later 16-9 lead. Only goalkeeper Andi Wolff showed a decent performance.
Playmaker Knorr not in shape
At the 24th birthday of backcourt ace Julian Köster, the German team lacked physicality and emotionality. The defense offered little resistance and playmaker Juri Knorr’s weak Bundesliga form was also reflected in the national team. The exploitation of opportunities remained catastrophic until the break. It was quite chaotic at times.
Fueled by the home crowd, the DHB team appeared significantly more committed after the change. Playmaker Marian Michalczik and Co. now fought more intensely and the deficit shrank to three goals (17:20). Substitute Sebastian Heymann with his tough throws and uscins in his home hall livened up the offensive game.
Germany was now in the game and suddenly Croatia was wobbling. Jannik Kohlbacher sent the fans into ecstasy with his goal to make it 21:23 in the middle of the second half. Even though every throw from the U21 world champion Uscins ended up in the goal during this phase, Croatia picked itself up again. Things got more intense in the final phase and Heymann was shown a red card after a foul. Eight minutes before the end of the game, the guests took the lead again with four goals – and maintained their lead until the end. Germany urgently needs an improvement in performance and a win against Austria.