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With a swing to Tokyo: Germany's handball players made their participation in the Olympic Games perfect with a safe 34:26 (17:14) against outsider Algeria and averted an impending sporting crisis after the botched World Cup.

Thanks to the lackluster success on Sunday, the DHB selection ended the elimination tournament in Berlin without defeat with 5: 1 points and silenced the last criticism.

"Now we can live the dream of the Olympics," rejoiced DHB Vice President Bob Hanning.

With the Tokyo ticket bought, national coach Alfred Gislason, who took over the post a year ago from the hapless Christian Prokop, completed his first mission.

“He fully met our expectations with the Olympic qualification.

At the World Cup in Egypt, he already proved in a very critical situation that he really is solid as a rock.

That's why we brought him in, "said DHB President Andreas Michelmann, praising the 61-year-old Icelander.

Quite a tough struggle: Philipp Weber is stopped by Berriah Abderahim (left) and Oqba Ensaad

Source: Getty Images / Martin Rose

Against Algeria, however, Gislason experienced a lot of cramp from his almost completely newly formed team, whose best thrower was backcourt player Julius Kühn with eight goals.

The Algerians kept up well for a long time because the DHB team lacked the necessary aggressiveness in defense.

So the North Africans came again and again to easy goals, especially since goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, unlike in the brilliant 36:27 the day before against Slovenia, did not ignite.

The 30-year-old had to clear the space between the posts after a good 20 minutes for Silvio Heinevetter.

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Gislason reacted during the break and ordered the Kiel Champions League winners Hendrik Pekeler and Steffen Weinhold onto the floor.

Now it got better, even if the DHB selection continued to struggle.

However, the twelfth World Cup never had to tremble about the Tokyo participation, especially since the lead was expanded in the final phase.

Self-confidence through Slovenia game

The foundation stone for the Olympic ticket was laid by the DHB selection on Saturday with a gala against European Championship fourth Slovenia.

"That was a liberation," said DHB sports director Axel Kromer.

“The boys have cleared themselves up.

That gives you strength for the tasks ahead. "

In the duel with the Slovenes, the German team played close to perfection for 45 minutes.

Wolff offered an outstanding performance in the gate that had not been seen of him for a long time.

Before that, the defense around the strong inner block with Hendrik Pekeler and Johannes Golla formed a bulwark that could hardly be overcome.

In the attack, the DHB team around the top throwers Marcel Schiller (7 goals) and Julius Kühn (6) burned off a veritable fireworks display.

It was only when Gislason switched in the middle of the second half that the rhythm was lost.

In the next few months, Gislason should develop the team so that they can play for victory in the summer games.

"We've been pretty dragged by the cocoa lately because we stuck to the Olympic gold goal that we set out eight years ago," said Michelmann.

“We know there are a number of teams that can become Olympic champions.

We belong to this group. "

Games are scheduled to take place in 2021

Six months before the planned opening of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, IOC President Thomas Bach affirmed that all National Olympic Committees are “determined” to hold on to the event.

Source: Stats Perform News