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Neuss (AP) - The younger relationship between Uwe Gensheimer and the national handball team has not always been an easy one.
Shortly before the 2016 European Championships, for example, the captain had to cancel his participation due to an injury.
He then watched from the stands how the young team sensationally won the title without him.
At the 2017 World Cup, it was just as sensational for him and the team that the round of 16 ended, and at the following European Championships Gensheimer could not consistently lead with his undisputed class.
Not only because of this, the 34-year-old is facing a special challenge shortly before the World Cup in Egypt.
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"He is an extremely important player because of his quality on the left wing, but also because of his leadership qualities," said national coach Alfred Gislason.
At the tournament from January 13th to 31st, Gensheimer will lead a team that has never played together in this form.
It is one of the few remaining constants.
A lot is new for him this year too: The question marks due to the Corona situation, the cancellation of several regular employees and the unusual preparation for the tournament.
Because before the DHB selection flies to Cairo next week, they first have to play two European Championship qualifiers against Austria.
On January 6th (1:45 p.m. / ZDF) Gislason's team will initially compete in Graz, followed by the second leg in Cologne on the 10th of the month (6:10 p.m. / ARD).
The goal is the ticket for the 2022 European Championship finals in Hungary and Slovakia.
There is hardly any time for the debutants in the DHB team to calmly prepare for the upcoming World Cup in Egypt.
This is one of the reasons why Captain Gensheimer is currently holding a few more conversations than usual at the national team's preparatory camp in Neuss. “I also said to the boys again: 'Everyone who is here can make mistakes,'” he says.
"We have to use the time to gain security."
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen professional does not lead the team like a loudspeaker, but with all his experience.
It is not surprising that Gislason publicly supports his captain.
Because not only the Icelander knows what Gensheimer is capable of.
On good days, the Mannheim native can throw his teams to victory practically single-handedly.
With his 87 goals so far, Gensheimer is one of the top scorers in the Bundesliga.
And maybe it is the knowledge of your own strength that sometimes becomes the undoing of the exceptional handball player.
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Gensheimer put himself under "a lot of pressure because he naturally wants to go away successfully for the team at the front," said ex-national coach Christian Prokop a year ago after his captain's poor preliminary round performance at the European Championship in Trondheim.
This year the eyes could be even more on him because other executives like the defensive specialists Hendrik Pekeler or Patrick Wiencek will be missing in Egypt.
"Of course I hope that he stays healthy and can play freely," says national coach Gislason.
The 61-year-old is not only relying on his qualifications, Gensheimer could also help solve his defense problems for him.
In addition to all of his goals, Gensheimer has «covered in half at times in the club», reported Gislason.
"That would of course also be an important thing if he can stabilize it with us."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210105-99-904529 / 2
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Squad of German handball players
Game schedule of the German handball players
Presidium of the German Handball Federation
Board of the German Handball Federation
Gensheimer profile on the DHB homepage