After a big victory at the start – Germany with worries about the next game
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First goalscorer for Germany at the World Cup: Julius Kühn (r.)
Source: Pool via REUTERS
The start was successful: The German selection defeated the Uruguayan team in the first game of the handball world championship in 2021. Nevertheless, the fear is great before the second encounter – which is mainly due to the opponent.
Srifle festival at the start of the World Cup: Germany’s handball players started the World Cup with an effortless 43:14 (16: 4) win over Uruguay, but still owed the hoped-for shine. In the expected significant success at the World Cup debut of national coach Alfred Gislason on Friday in Giseh Timo Kastening with nine goals and Marcel Schiller (5) were the best German throwers.
The next preliminary round opponent of the German team is Cape Verde on Sunday (6 p.m., ARD). The Africans received the green light from the world association IHF on Friday for their first participation in the World Cup, despite four positive corona cases that had been detected on arrival in Egypt on Thursday.
The affected players are in quarantine and are out. “It is very important that we keep our focus,” said DHB Vice President Bob Hanning on ARD with a view to the further tournament events.
Wolff pauses
Especially since the German team then has to prepare for more resistance than against Uruguay. In the first duel with the fourth class opponent, Gislason surprisingly did without goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who had delivered an outstanding performance in the World Cup dress rehearsal against Austria. Johannes Bitter started for the 29-year-old from the Polish top club Vive Kielce.
The 38-year-old oldie, who became world champion in the DHB selection in 2007, was the usual good support – even if he was not asked too often. From the beginning, Germany dominated the one-sided game without shining. After a good start (6: 1/10.), A lot of lack of concentration crept into the attack. Gislason, who watched the whole thing with crossed arms on the sideline, didn’t like a few missed throws and slight ball losses.
Not always completely satisfied: Alfred Gislason (center)
Source: Pool via REUTERS
Captain Uwe Gensheimer alone missed four big chances in the first 25 minutes, including a seven-meter. Nevertheless, the left wing of the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, who scored three times in the first half and had to go to the bench after the move, is now Germany’s record scorer with a total of 174 goals.
His teammates also failed a few times because of the good Uruguayan goalkeeper Felipe Gonzales, which Gislason criticized with clear words in the first break. That made an impact.
After the break, Silvio Heinevetter moved between the posts for Bitter and also delivered a good performance. In the attack, the DHB selection acted more concentrated and more efficient in the end. The lead grew steadily and was the first 20 hits at 27: 7 (43rd). Against the increasingly declining South Americans, the German team now had an easy time and in the end cracked the 40-goal mark.
“I really liked that we were braver and fresher after the break,” said goalkeeper Bitter after the game. With a view to the second group game against Cape Verde, he reacted with concern. “This is an uncomfortable situation that one would like to avoid. We hope that the game may not take place because we are not comfortable with it, ”he said.
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