so It seems that Alfred Jeslason himself does not know where his national handball team will stand after winning the first European Championship Endurance Test. “I thought we did a good job overall,” the national team coach said on Friday in Mannheim after 30:26 (15:14) against Switzerland about star director Andy Schmid.
Jeslason also spoke on ARD about “two phases we didn’t play smoothly.” In addition, the Icelander complained of significant problems in defense. On the other hand, Jeslason tested all the players before the finals in Hungary and Slovakia and also tried several defensive formations and tactics.
Wolf at the King’s Gate
Thanks to the victory, his subjects at least gained confidence. The best kicker was left winger Marcel Schiller with seven goals. EM’s rehearsal against world and Olympic record champions France will take place in Wetzlar on Sunday, before the German team flies to Bratislava next Wednesday. Belarus, Austria and Poland will compete in the preliminary round.
The grueling training days at EM’s preparation camp in Großwallstadt were initially barely noticeable to the German team. The DHB team was fully awake from the start and set the pace for the game.
The defense was in good shape initially – he can also count on good-looking Andreas Wolff in goal. The 30-year-old, who missed the two international matches against Portugal in early November, showed a solid first-half performance and emphatically confirmed that he is number one among the publications.
In the attack, many passed outside Marcel Schiller and Timo Kastening. With the exception of Sebastian Heymann, the back area was subjected to very little pressure. However, at 6:3 the DHB took the lead after ten minutes with three goals for the first time.
As the season progressed, the German team faced defensive problems because the Confederates constantly attacked with seven field players. “We did not manage to do the necessary work against the circuit,” DHB sports director Axel Kroemer complained during the break. The result: at 13:13 the Swiss tied for the first time.
After the break, Jeslason was completely changed except for circuit runner Johannes Gulla. Till Klimbeck came to the gate, who presented himself with some performance, thus laying the foundation for the first five-goal advance (22:17/40). In the attack, Lukas Mertens especially recommended at this point. The left winger of the sovereign Bundesliga leader SC Magdeburg has succeeded three times.
But as in the first round, several errors crept in, so that Switzerland came close to achieving the goal ten minutes before the end. The selection of DHB showed no nerves and came off the ground as a deserving winner.
Klimpke sums up: “We’re actually playing a very good game for the first time and we’re in the constellation.” “We are unpredictable,” said the goalkeeper, looking at his electromagnetic striker. “Anything is possible – we can also be expelled in the preliminary round,” Kastening warned.