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His greatest fad as a trainer accompanied him for 60 minutes in Graz.
With every groundbreaking action by his players, Alfred Gislason goes with the substitution bench, then shrugs back slightly with his upper body before the situation is over.
Even in the 30th year of his coaching activity, the Icelander can't get out of his skin - although he was able to record a sovereign victory in the penultimate endurance test before the World Cup and could actually have reacted more calmly early on during the game.
Germany clearly won against Austria with 36:27 (22:16) in the European Championship qualification.
After a successful start into the new year, Gislason stood on the field with a smile, even though he, who was celebrated as the new savior of German handball, had not liked everything.
"We attacked very, very well and put a lot of pressure on the defense," he said.
“In the first half we only had two missed throws.
We wanted to expand our game and we succeeded.
In terms of defense, it was as expected, we often left the Austrians a little too close at the throws.
You could see that we weren't quite in tune.
After the break I was already dissatisfied with the first ten minutes because we were too sedate. "
Not entirely satisfied: national coach Alfred Gislason
Source: dpa
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In that phase the Austrians came within two more goals, but in the end Gislason's men found their way back to their strong game.
Before the game, given the lack of nine professionals, there was still a bit of uncertainty about their own performance, the Germans were allowed to classify the game afterwards as an encouragement at the right time.
Little time
A week before the start of the World Cup in Egypt, the national team was able to indicate that, despite the bloodletting, it is quite ready for the global title fights.
After another European Championship qualifying game against Austria on Sunday in Cologne, the entourage of German handball players will head to the desert state next Tuesday, where Uruguay, Cape Verde and Hungary will be waiting as opponents during the preliminary round.
Gislason, who took over the post of national coach ten months ago from the hapless and overwhelmed Christian Prokop, wants to use the time until then to give the team, which has been reorganized in many parts, more support.
"We are far from being a favorite"
Handball national coach Alfred Gislason is concerned about the stability of his defense for the World Cup in Egypt in view of the many cancellations.
The expectations of his tournament debut in the DHB dress are correspondingly low.
Source: SID
The biggest construction site is the inner block, where two world-class players, Hendrik Pekeler and Patrick Wiencek, have been eliminated.
The two Kielers had won the Champions League in Cologne with THW Kiel last week, but had canceled their participation in the World Cup beforehand for fear of the consequences of the corona pandemic - as did their teammate Steffen Weinhold and Melsung defensive specialist Finn Lemke.
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In addition, there are five injuries-related cancellations, which is why the coach needed a bit of imagination and courage when putting his squad together.
Sebastian Firnhaber, for example, who will play in the inner block alongside Johannes Golla, made his international debut in Graz and will be the first HC Erlangen player to represent the club's colors at a World Cup.
In this case, carelessness has to compensate for a lack of routine, which also applies to other positions such as the middle of the back space or the circle.
"We now have four training sessions behind us, in which we have continuously improved," said Golla, the new head of defense.
"We are on a good way.
You saw that today too. "
In fact, besides Golla, who has just recovered from a metatarsal fracture, Austria was able to do some other advertising on his own behalf.
Above all Marcel Schiller.
The Göppingen initially surprisingly got preference over captain Uwe Gensheimer and then impressed with a formidable rate: eleven goals in eleven attempts.
From the seven meter point, the 29-year-old was just as successful as the regular left winger.
"I can be very satisfied," said Schiller after the game.
“It is important that I took my chance.
With a program as tight as the World Cup, we have to divide up our forces. "
Strong appearance: Marcel Schiller
Source: dpa
However, Gislason denied that there is now a role reversal and "Uns Uwe", as he is called in handball, could be relegated to reservists at the World Cup.
Gensheimer had problems with the throwing hand and was therefore not used, said the Icelander.
In the second game against Austria on Sunday, the captain should be fit again and play the full 60 minutes.
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This also applies to Marian Michalczik, who was absent from Graz after a training accident.
On Tuesday, the Berliner got the finger of an opponent in the eye during a training session and suffered a tear in the cornea.
"After the pain got worse, the eye didn't stop watering and sticking together, I was driven to the eye clinic," said the 23-year-old "Bild".
A moment of shock for the Germans, who absolutely cannot afford further failures. But the playmaker has since given the all-clear. He has to take a break for three to four days and take care of the eyes, then he is ready to go again. His twitching boss at the bank will be pleased.