The sky shone in the clearest blue, not a cloud could be seen far and wide. When the German national handball team arrived by plane on Wednesday afternoon, Bratislava was at its best. The fact that the team headed by national coach Alfred Gislason was able to overlook the Slovak capital over a large area on the top floor of the hotel, which was then occupied, rounded off the good first impression perfectly.
“Of course the focus is on the upcoming games,” said captain Johannes Golla, “but it’s always nice to travel to other countries. You can of course enjoy the view as well. ”Part of the feel-good package is the good organization, the professionalism in the hotel and the impressive arena in which the games of groups D and E as well as the main round are played.
Thus, the circumstances seem to be a lot better than in Szeged, around 360 kilometers away, where the French and Serbian national teams are housed. The three-time world handball player Nikola Karabatic spoke of a “shock”. The hotel accommodates non-tournament guests who, to make matters worse, do not adhere to the applicable hygiene measures.
The dining area is also not separated. Serbian coach Toni Gerona expressed it even more drastically. “The organization is chaotic,” he wrote on Twitter. “No tests for all teams, testing with delay. The result is that some players become infected. How can we play like that? “
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There are constant reports of new infections, most recently the preliminary round opponent of the German Poles, who reported five corona cases after arriving. Gislason and Co. are all the happier to have been spared from such quarrels so far. “We can’t complain about anything,” he said of the situation in Bratislava. The Germans are even accommodated in single rooms, otherwise one is largely isolated.
In this respect, everything is arranged so that you can concentrate on the sport as much as possible. And since the DHB selection with Belarus (6 p.m., ARD) expects a starting opponent not to be underestimated. The team is well-rehearsed, has Champions League experience across the board and, in Iouri Chevtsov, has a coach who is very familiar with the Bundesliga.
Despite many debutants in the team, Germany is the clear favorite against Belarus
“The odds are 50 to 50,” said Gislason. On paper, however, the favorite roles are clearly distributed. If you look at the successes to date, Belarus has never won a medal in recent years, while Germany alone has been on the podium four times at European Championships. Due to the numerous debutants in the squad, the national coach is cautious. “We have to get rid of the nervousness quickly and hopefully keep our positive mood. That is groundbreaking for the further course. “
The mood, Gislason and his players never tire of emphasizing, is a special one. You are sworn in and the excitement is limited. “We’re just happy that we’re starting now,” said Golla. “The good feeling outweighs the tension.” From this point of view, there are some indications that the prospects for the German team will remain sunny.
