It’s the 22nd minute in the preliminary round game against France when the time-out signal sounds. The German team gathers around national coach Alfred Gislason, with a player positioned right next to him: Johannes Golla. After the speech, the captain is the first to raise his fist in the middle. “Eagle,” Golla intones, “fly!” answers the rest. Johannes Golla leads the way. At 26 years old, he is still one of the younger players. He is in his prime as a handball player.

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