The German handball players passed their first World Cup endurance test and made it into the main round early.

Also thanks to goalkeeper Joel Birlehm, who was outstanding in the second half, the DHB selection prevailed against Serbia on Sunday with 34:33 (19:17).

In the final preliminary round game on Tuesday (6 p.m. / ZDF) against Algeria, the third win should ensure the optimal number of points for the next phase of the tournament.

Left winger Lukas Mertens with seven goals and captain Johannes Golla (6) were the best throwers in national coach Alfred Gislason's team.

In front of around 2,500 spectators in Katowice, Poland, the expected thriller developed right from the start.

Gislason's team hardly allowed themselves any weak phases this time.

But the experienced opponent never let the DHB selection pull away clearly.

The fact that the targeted success was achieved in the end also had something to do with the strong Birlehm.

The second key to victory was the almost consistently ideal exploitation of chances.

Confident and focused

The DHB selection started the game as they did in the 31:27 win against Qatar: sovereign and concentrated.

Andreas Wolff, who has recovered from a strained calf, had difficulties with the shots placed by the Serbs.

But otherwise the German defense was stable.

And what was even more striking: the own exploitation of chances.

Up front, Mertens, Kai Häfner, Golla and Co. used almost every opportunity they had.

As a result, Gislason's team was almost consistently in the lead by two or three goals in the first half.

The Icelander and his players knew in advance what to expect.

Not only internationally experienced players like Petar Djordjic or Lazar Kukic, but overall a lot of rip-off.

In fact, the Serbs never faltered throughout the season despite falling behind.

The German team could not afford a weak phase like in the second round against Qatar against this opponent.

Neither did it.

Nevertheless, it remained tight.

Because the Serbs have a much higher individual class compared to their opening opponent Qatar.

"I think we have to be a little more resolute in defense," demanded DHB sports director Axel Kromer during the break.

"Otherwise, a two-goal lead at half-time is good." What Kromer and the rest of the German delegation must have liked: counterattacks and efficiency in front of the opposing goal.

The interaction between Knorr and Kreis also worked.

What was missing in addition to a consistently stable defense was a strong goalkeeper performance.

Wolff didn't get into the game as well as he did against the Qataris.

Five minutes before the break, Gislason sent the second goalkeeper Birlehm onto the plate.

But if the Serbs did something particularly well, it was their placements.

At least initially.

Because the opponent built after the break.

And unlike last time, Germany remained extremely stable.

Birlehm became stronger and stronger in goal, and in attack the DHB selection continued to exploit almost every chance they had.

Technical mistakes, misses or gaps in defense like against Qatar?

Hardly seen this time.