For the first Time a Handball is to be played world Cup in two countries – in Germany and in Denmark. The German team wants to rehabilitate himself in the tournament athletic. Finally, the Team disappointed twice.
Germany’s handball team will on Thursday seriously. For the world Cup in Berlin, begins with the opening game against Korea. Five preliminary round games you need to complete in the capital. In the connection in Cologne for at least three matches of the main round will follow. The halls, each with more than 10,000 spectators filled – and this support is likely to be for the players in addition to helpful.
The minimum goal is set high – the semi-finals in Hamburg. “I am convinced that we can achieve it,” said goalkeeper Andreas Wolff. “The quality we have”. And if all is well, would lead the way of the German Teams even further in the North: The world Cup final will be held in the Danish Herning.
The euphoria is big in Germany. The pressure for players and coaches. In front of the home tournament reminders to be awake. At the last world Cup in their own country in the year 2007. This tournament ended for the German team by winning the title. “Of course I have these images in my head. And of course we want to repeat the opportunity,” says circle runner Hendrik Pekeler.
The team spirit, to revive
However, the current generation of players has already proven what she’s capable of. In 2016, the Team secured a complete surprise to the European title. As the outsiders start to the tournament, it had increased from game to game, tremendous team spirit shown, and at the end of the Triumph achieved. Eight of the players from back then are now back to the world Cup squad.
The team spirit of Christian Prokop also sees this Time as a key for a successful tournament. “Only as a total community, we will succeed,“ says the 40-year-old national coach. Because Germany does not have a towering single-rounder that can decide a game alone. Therefore, the preparation of Procopius was used to, different tactical game systems to rehearse. “We want to put the opponent by different means under pressure,“ says the Coach.
Already in the preliminary round, strong opponents are waiting
Germany’s rear-area player Paul Drux (l) in action
A solid defense should make this project the (success-) Basis. Patrick Wiencek and Hendrik Pekeler of THW Kiel in the inner cover of the national coach, can rely on a well-rehearsed Duo. For this purpose, the 2,10-man Finn Lemke from Melsungen, which is also the emotional leader of the team. Less staffing flexibility Prokop has in the offensive game. With the Julius Kühn of the litter most powerful player in the backcourt. “We need to handle with different products,” said Prokop. “With Steffen faeth and Paul Drux, we have players who can also hit from distance. But also on the outside, and from the circle we need to be a goal threat.”
Already in the preliminary round, the German Team will be required. The hardest task is waiting with France. The Olympic champion and world champion, is missing the best player, Nikola Karabatic,. “France has many top handball players, so a Top performance will be needed in order to survive,” says Prokop. “But also against the joint Team from Korea, Russia, Brazil, and Serbia, we need to go concentrated.”
New opportunity for national coach Prokop
From his first major tournament, the disappointing EM 2018, has pulled the young Coach his Teachings. At the time, he had been acting too much as a Club Trainer. The player with a lot of information and different game systems more insecure, instead of to limit to their power.
On a two-week trip to Japan last summer, Prokop has been able to rebuild a relationship of trust with the team. “We have agreed on the values that we want to live in the Team. The chemistry is right now. Football is an emotional sport, in which there is friction.”
At the European championship in 2016 was created from the team, the Image of the “Bad Boys”. “It was a brilliant idea at the time of my predecessor, Dagur Sigurdsson, who has also provided the necessary psychological back wind, you need at such a challenging tournament,” says the national coach. “The idea we will hold it for you. But we want to create at the world Cup, a new narrative.”