World Cup ticket right in front of you
DHB team fulfills the duty, but nothing more
04/13/2022, 8:45 p.m
The German handball players start with the hoped-for sense of achievement in the playoffs for the World Cup qualification. In the first leg against the courageous outsider Faroe Islands, the team of national coach Gislason clearly wins, but cannot consistently convince. Goalkeeper Wolff shows an outstanding performance.
Duty fulfilled, World Cup ticket close at hand: Germany’s handball players can plan for the World Cup with peace of mind. The team of national coach Alfred Gislason won the first leg of the World Cup play-offs against the Faroe Islands 34:26 (17:11) and now has the best chance of qualifying for the tournament in January 2023 in Poland and Sweden.
The best German goal scorers in front of 5121 spectators in Kiel were Lukas Zerbe, Kai Häfner, Luca Witzke and Marcel Schiller with five goals each. Keeper Andreas Wolff also impressed with numerous saves. The final decision on participation in the World Cup will be made in the second leg on Saturday (8 p.m.) in Torshavn.
Although captain Johannes Golla and Co. were not always solid in defense and sometimes acted too awkwardly in attack, keeper Wolff gave his reorganized and rejuvenated team a lot of security. Also thanks to the sometimes spectacular saves of the 2016 European champions, Germany led from the first minute – and continuously expanded the lead.
“Our defense was not good”
“We will invest everything to solve the task against the Faroe Islands in front of our own audience in such a way that we can take a cushion with us into the away game,” said Gislason before returning to his old place of work – and the German team left the words follow their trainer’s actions.
While Wolff saved ten balls in the first half alone, nine different players were on the top scorers list up until the break. Nevertheless, DHB sports director Axel Kromer was only partially happy with the appearance of the DHB selection. “Six goals at the break in a World Cup qualifier – we’re happy with that,” said Kromer at half-time at Sport1: “Our defense wasn’t good. We can be happy that Andreas Wolff held up so well.”
The young Witzke scored plus points in the playmaker position. The 23-year-old from Leipzig not only shone as a precise assist provider, but also repeatedly posed a goal threat himself. Youngster Juri Knorr, who hadn’t been considered for the European Championships in January, was also able to make his mark after being substituted on and impressed with his enormous duel strength.
Last competitive game before the World Cup
Also because the German team now had more access at the back, Gislason’s facial features relaxed noticeably. The Icelander, who had led THW Kiel to 20 (!) titles in his eleven years on the fjord up to 2019, celebrated every successful action with clenched fists. This is how he had imagined returning to his long-standing sporting homeland.
In addition to the almost certain World Cup ticket, the clear success has another advantage: Gislason can use the second leg on Saturday in Torshavn as another test match under competitive conditions for his internationally inexperienced team. Because of the home EM 2024, for which Germany is already qualified as the host, it would finally be the last DHB mandatory game before the World Cup tournament in January 2023 in Poland and Sweden.