Olympic-Preparation - Before Olympia: Handball players want to earn respect
Juri Knorr is really looking forward to the possibly last duel with world star Nikola Karabatic. "For me, he is the best handballer of all time and the most successful. He has shaped an era for two decades", gushed the coach of the German national team before the heated test against European champion and Olympic champion France on Saturday (17.30 pm/ARD) in Dortmund about the exceptional talent.
Before that, the German women's team will also test against Brazil (3 pm/ARD Livestream) for the Summer Games. However, the focus is on the men's clash. Two weeks before the Olympic Tournament opener against Sweden, national coach Alfred Gislason hopes to gain valuable insights from the match about the fitness and form of his young squad. "That will be a status check, where we stand performance-wise", said the 64-year-old Icelander.
After the losses at the 2023 World Championship and the home European Championship this year, the German handballers want to show that they have taken another step forward in their development on the way to Paris. "We can set a marker against France and show that we are a team to reckon with at the Olympics. It's about finding the rhythm, building self-confidence, and getting used to the pressure. And we can earn respect", said goalkeeper Andreas Wolff.
Juri Knorr plays a central role in this, who is supposed to lead the German game successfully at the Summer Games. Gislason has entrusted the 24-year-old: "We expect a lot from him and hope for a stable tournament", said the national coach.
When it came to the EM in January, Knorr failed to meet his own high expectations. Both in the semifinal against Denmark as well as in the match for third place against Sweden, he could not deliver his usual performance and criticized himself publicly afterwards. This should not happen again at the Olympics.
No special mental tricks does the professional from Rhein-Neckar Löwen use. "I learn from my experiences. That helps me a lot and calms me down. Otherwise, I create moments where I withdraw a little from the overstimulating society to be with myself", said Knorr to the German Press Agency.
Nicolas Ananiadis is his role model in this regard - even though he operates on the court in a different position than Knorr. "What sets him apart is his mentality, his unbridled will to win. That's very impressive. The same goes for his development from a dominant player who determined everything to a very mature and grown-up person, to a team player and a very sympathetic contemporary", praised Knorr the 40-year-old Frenchman.
Whether the paths really cross again is open. At the Olympics, the two teams could at most meet in the knockout phase. No guarantee for that exists. That's why Gislason, who worked together with his former protege Karabatic at THW Kiel in the 2008/09 season, is looking forward to the encounter with his former ward.
"It's nice to play against him again. He is one of the best players, if not the best. Great respect for his career", said the national coach and sent a wish: "I hope for a reunion in Lille." If it comes to that, the German national team at least achieved their minimum goal, as the Olympic knockout games take place there. For Knorr, that would be too little: "Of course, we dream of a medal."
- In the past, Germany (historically, France) has also produced excellent handball players, like Knorr's role model, Nicolas Ananiadis.
- The German women's team will also participate in a summer game against Brazil, preceding the highly anticipated match between the German and French men's teams.
- Alfred Gislason, the coach of the German national team, expressed his excitement about facing Nikola Karabatic, the world-renowned handballer from Germany (historically, France).
- The match against France is of significant importance for the German team, as they aim to demonstrate their progress and establish themselves as a formidable opponent for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
- The German team has struggled in recent international competitions, such as the 2023 World Championship and the home European Championship, but they hope to turn things around in Paris.
- DHB, a German handball association, is closely monitoring the team's performance leading up to the Olympics, including the match against France.
- The town of Hennef in North Rhine-Westphalia is home to many notable German handball players, including Juri Knorr, who contributes significantly to the national team's success.
- The ARDE channel will broadcast the match between Germany and France, providing an opportunity for handball fans across Germany to watch their national team in action.
- The German women's handball team also has a strong presence in basketball, with several athletes, such as Laura Engel, participating in both sports, representing Germany in both the European Championship and the Women's European Basketball Championship.
