The way up to the lodge took quite a long time.

The five small children of the Wiencek and Pekeler families ensured that there was more to marvel at than adults usually see.

Anyone who saw Patrick Wiencek and Hendrik Pekeler in civilian clothes on Wednesday evening got an idea of ​​how needs are changing - also for handball professionals.

Both made their decision to retire (Wiencek) or to pause (Pekeler) as national players with a view to their wives and children.

Frequently on the road, seldom at home, that was no longer an acceptable situation.

And so the German Handball Federation (DHB) said goodbye to one of its protagonists - Patrick Wiencek, the 33-year-old handball worker who held out his bones 159 times.

“I would like to keep him with me”

A bouquet of flowers and warm words from President Andreas Michelmann, a picture from sports director Axel Kromer and thunderous applause from more than 5,000 fans: with his son and daughter at his side, Wiencek was once again cheered after the national team's 34:26 against the Faroe Islands.

He will continue as a professional at THW Kiel, as will Pekeler - the same applies to Steffen Weinhold, the left-hander, who retired as a national player in the summer.

And as understandable as it is to break away from the DHB after a decade or more, it is just as painful for the association and especially national coach Alfred Gislason to have to do without these supports.

A return to the top of the world would be tricky without them, as Gislason admits: "I can understand his decision.

But it's a sad thing, I'd like to keep him there because he's a very good player and an incredibly good person.

He always did the invisible dirty work.”

Patrick Wiencek informed Gislason at the beginning of March.

He said: "It wasn't an overnight decision.

I had a lot of time to think in my hotel room at the European Championships in January.

I can feel my bones and I have to give my body a break.” How popular the quiet blonde with the big fighter's heart was could be guessed from the warm hugs when the current national team said goodbye to their former team-mate.

"That was the farewell he deserved," said Captain Johannes Golla.

Others are now responsible for pushing and tugging around the circle, first and foremost Golla, who didn't have a good night against the Faroe Islands and was part of a holey cover.

Whether it was the European Championship or the Olympic Games in 2016 with the title and the bronze medal or fourth place at the home World Cup three years later: the successes of the recent past were based on a strong goalkeeper behind a snappy defence.

Gislason also has that in mind.

The only question is which players he wants to do that with.

Well-rehearsed like Wiencek and Pekeler won't be an inside block anytime soon.

Most recently, Golla tried it at the three major tournaments under Gislason with Sebastian Firnhaber, Pekeler and Wiencek.

That was rarely completely convincing, and the presence with Golla and Simon Ernst also seemed problematic, at least in relation to Wednesday: 26 goals from an opponent of this quality were too many.

Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff prevented further goals with his 17 saves.

"Our 6-0 defense could be improved," said Gislason, who believed that the cover was more stable in March's tests against Hungary.

Things got a little better in Kiel when Gislason let them play more offensively and used Julian Köster up front.

The 22-year-old from Gummersbach is also quick and tough in the inner block - the national coach will certainly try him and Sebastian Heymann from Göppingen alongside Golla.

In terms of charisma and attitude, Ernst would be the ideal boss.

However, the backcourt player, who has been converted after many knee injuries, hardly ever plays an attack, and Gislason envisages a first seven without changing defense and attack.

After all, after the eight-goal victory in the play-off first leg, the DHB selection was almost certainly qualified for the World Cup in Sweden and Poland in early 2023 and was able to fly relaxed via Billund to Tórshavn, where this Saturday evening (8 p.m at zdfsport.de) Game two is coming up.

For the Pekeler and Wiencek families, it's just a TV game - if at all.