The fact that sports fans in Turkey sometimes tend to be very enthusiastic is regularly observed when watching football or basketball. Turkey doesn’t have a great tradition in handball, but the game against Germany, a recognized great and traditional handball nation, was nevertheless or precisely because of that a special event for the hosts – especially in a European Championship qualifier. The fact that the atmosphere in the arena in Ankara did not reach too high temperatures on Sunday was due to the DHB team, which won 36:29, although lackluster, but safely. The Turkish selection had previously made people sit up and take notice with a narrow 28:31 defeat in Austria.
The useful insights from the unequal showdown remained manageable for national coach Alfred Gislason, who was really annoyed by the occasional pomaded performance against a clearly inferior opponent. Its best-known players are Doruk Pehlivan, who is under contract with second division club HC Elbflorenz and was the best scorer with seven goals, and Koray Ayar from first division club Hannover. The German team got off to a rough start and were able to thank goalkeeper Andreas Wolff for only falling behind 1-2. Ultimately, the physical superiority and the tempo game of the DHB selection prevailed, victory was never in danger despite the incorrect performance, the best shooter was right winger Lukas Zerbe with eight goals.
The 35:26 win against Switzerland at the start of qualifying for the 2026 European Championship on Thursday was more meaningful. The role of favorite was less clearly assigned to the selection of the German Handball Association (DHB): The Swiss have a squad that is mainly made up of Bundesliga professionals, including Manuel Zehnder, the top scorer in the Bundesliga from champions Magdeburg. The ensemble is led by Andy Schmid, a fixture of the Rhein-Neckar Löwen for many years and one of the world’s best strategists in the playmaking position of the past decade.
Captain Golla, defense chief Köster and director Knorr are missing three key players against the Turks, but the talent coming up can easily compensate for this
Gislason also had to improvise, two key players were missing in Juri Knorr (broken finger) and Julian Köster (torn medial ligament). Which brings us to the reliable findings: Knorr is seen as a kind of savior in the playmaker position for the national team, even if the 24-year-old always vehemently rejects such adulation. Nevertheless, this has been the critical position of the German selection in recent years, and Knorr’s absence was not particularly noticeable. There are good replacements in Niels Lichtlein, 22, and Luca Witzke, 25, who represented Knorr well in the two games.
Gislason has emphasized often enough what role Köster plays for the national coach; the 24-year-old is head of defense alongside captain Golla, who also provides important offensive impulses. His absence ultimately didn’t matter either; Sebastian Heymann, 26, and Justus Fischer, 21, proved to be useful alternatives in the inner block.
Gilsason’s conclusion was particularly positive for the Switzerland game: “I’m very satisfied,” said the national coach, by which he particularly meant tempo play and enthusiasm in attack as well as the attentive defensive work. With the victories against France and Sweden at the Olympic Games, his selection closed the gap to the three big nations; only Denmark was one size too big in the final.
Handball
:How do the handball players play without Knorr and Köster?
National coach Gislason has to find out exactly this in two international matches. And then there is confusion over a possible resignation announcement.
The clear and safe victory of the weakened DHB selection against Switzerland can be seen as further evidence of this thesis; the Swiss can be counted among the ambitious pursuers, from whom the DHB selection is apparently far away.
This must not apply to the Turkish team, which has never qualified for a major tournament. In Ankara, Gislason also had to do without his ailing captain Golla and regular Christoph Steinert, who broke his hand in training, which could also have an impact on the World Cup in January. Max Beneke from the Berliner Füchsen moved up, one of those U21 world champions who are vehemently pushing for the club with strong performances. And of those who, alongside Lichtlein and Fischer, especially Renars Uscins played a prominent role, the left-hander from the Recken Hannover has not only been a player since his gala appearances at the Olympics.
After the two safe victories, qualifying for the European Championships should no longer be a problem; testing alternatives was almost more important for Gislason: the World Cup is coming up in January, where the opponents will be much stronger.
