The thrilling prestige duel between the German handball players and Austria leaves national coach Alfred Gislason cold.
“It doesn’t worry me that Germany and Austria have sporting problems with each other. That’s none of my business,” said the Icelander and made it clear: “I just want to win games.”
The 64-year-old expects a similarly competitive game against Germany’s neighbors as against Iceland. Gislason’s home country only had to admit defeat to the DHB selection 24:26 after 60 minutes of fighting. “Every game is a final and it starts all over again. The game will be just as difficult,” predicted Gislason before the game on Saturday (8.30 p.m./ARD and Dyn).
Dahmke: “The pressure is clear for us”
For Gislason, the ÖHB selection is one of the surprise teams at this European Championship so far. “They sent Spain home in the preliminary round and they have a strong and experienced team around Mykola Bilyk and Lukas Hutecek,” praised the DHB coach and said: “A defeat against Austria and the dream of the semi-finals would be over.”
Left winger Rune Dahmke sees the next, so far undefeated opponent “at an absolute high”. “They are writing handball history for Austria every minute they spend on the field here. They have nothing to lose. This is a dangerous starting situation and the pressure is clearly on us,” analyzed the Kieler.
With two points, the DHB team is currently in fourth place in the group of six. Only the best two in the group qualify for the semi-finals.
