In an attempt to establish handball as an equal rival of football, many media around the World Cup 2007 spoke of a "winter fairy tale": The title win of the German team in their own country was so connoted with the euphoria around the World Cup in Germany, which had taken place half a year earlier. The magazine "Sportbild" even celebrated the former national coach Heiner Brand as a true Klinsmann. He has realized what the DFB coach "only promised".
Now at least half of the handball world championships take place in Germany. And again you can see how measured the comparison of these two sports is. The big difference: Handball, that is a great sport for a lot of people in Germany - you are intensively pursued once a year for two weeks. But while all 64 games of the World Cup can be seen on TV during football, and ZDF also clears the prime time for Morocco against Iran, the public-law players are only interested in handball for the German team. Not even the final will be on ARD or ZDF, if Germany is not there.
And in the halls? Who buys a ticket for a preliminary round game, can usually see three games in succession, if he or she wants. Not everyone wants that. Example Munich, first group match day of Group B. In the meeting between Japan and Macedonia, the Olympiahalle is only half full. At the game Iceland - Croatia then at least 12,000 fans are on site. And then? If it comes to the match with perhaps the biggest difference in performance of the whole tournament. Spain, the reigning European champion and two-time world champion, will face Bahrain. Spain has won 94 games in World Cup history. Bahrain has lost all of its 14 games in World Cup history.
"We are proud of that"
When the national team from Bahrain is announced by the stadium announcer, the Croatian fans dance in second place to the music of a marching band in Bavarian costume. They wave their scarves, clap in time, whistle. And also miss the arrival of the Spaniards. The Croats have just defeated the Icelanders 31:27 in a close and exciting game.
Bahrain, on the other hand, nobody dares to do anything. None of the handball players from the Middle East has so far gained experience in Europe. They do not want to, says at least Dr. Khaled Abdulrahman Al Haidan, vice president of the Bahraini Handball Association. "Three players already had offers from Europe, for example from Iceland, but they refused because of their family, the culture."
Anna Paarmann
Khaled Abdulrahman Al Haidan
Different cultures seem to consider Al Haidan incompatible. When asked about neighboring Qatar, which reached the final at the 2015 World Cup with the naturalization of a number of players from nations such as France, Montenegro and Serbia, the official said: "This is not an issue for us, our players all come from Bahrain, they are originals, we are proud of that. "
Does Bahrain have a chance?
But what prospects does a team have in which not a single player is even employed in another emirate, against a team like Spain, whose professionals are under contract in five European top leagues? That's what almost 10,000 spectators want to know about this Munich January evening.
Because now the noisy Croats have taken their places again. At the Bratwurst and Pizzabuden it has become much emptier, the employees, who are responsible for beer tapping, breathe through. Quite obviously, the Croatian fans have expected that Spain would have long since procured a 20-goal buffer. Because looking at the ad says something else, excitement flares up. Does Bahrain have a chance against the European champions?
A block begins to clap in time. Like a La Ola wave it tears the whole audience. Spain is being kicked off in a foul, the outsider has many fans in the hall. Fans from other "cultures", it must be said, because from Bahrain itself only a handful of fans have arrived, as the association tells.
Maybe there is a winter wonderland?
Bahrain fans on time but many are in the hall. Like Petra, Josip and Zoran Zubaj. They live in Munich, their families come from Croatia. "We have a ticket for all the games that take place here," says 23-year-old Petra, who would choose Croatia for a run-off between her new and old homeland. "We say that genes are made of stone," says her brother. Petra thinks beyond all genes: "But now I'm for Bahrain, I think it's nice and it's a small country."
Anna Paarmann
Zoran Zubaj, son Josip, daughter Petra
In the first row, directly behind the players' substitute benches, a Spanish fan club has meanwhile been stationed. They are wrapped in yellow and red jerseys, caps and scarves and prophesy a 40:20 victory. "We stay in Germany for a total of 13 days, so we also drive to the main round in Cologne." The Spaniards have been traveling the national team for years. "Last year we were in Croatia, 2017 in France, before that in Poland." Even the long way to Qatar, the men and women have taken on.
They should not be right with their forecast. The game ends "only" with a ten-goal lead for the Spaniards, 33:23. Their coach Jordi Ribera praises Bahrain after the final whistle. "The game was really complex, especially in the first few minutes, so of course I'm happy with the first two points."
Happy are also Petra, Josip and Zoran. Their Croatian side play against Japan on Sunday. Before that, they could cheer on Bahrain again from 2 pm. Perhaps more exciting than the outcome of the game is the question of the mood in the Olympiahalle. Will the match between Bahrain and Macedonia really inspire? Maybe we will really experience a winter fairy tale.