With the country slowly re-emerging after the COVID-19 pandemic, the German Handball Federation (DHB) celebrated the “Tag des Handballs” – the National Day of Handball – with plenty of activities and three competitive friendly games that took place in the centre of the celebration, the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf.

"The realisation of the nationwide Day of Handball, after many difficult months without training and games, is a project close to our hearts here, at the DHB.

"Together with our clubs, which we are happy to support in planning the events, we want to show that German handball is back in business," said Mark Schober, the Chairman of the Board of the German Handball Federation.

More than 82 handball clubs in Germany, throughout the whole country, planned special activities for children and families, integrating handball in their daily lives.

Everything culminated in the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, where a triple-header was held, with the Germany men’s junior side (U20) facing the Hungarian U20 side, the men’s national team playing against Portugal, and the women’s national team, who is preparing for the IHF Women’s World Championship in Spain, took the court against Russia.

The German U20 team, the winners of this summer’s Men’s 19 EHF EURO, snatched a last-gasp draw against their Hungarian opponents (26:26), after Lion Zacharias converted a penalty shot in the last second of the game.

With 5,500 fans in the stands roaring for their favourite side, the German men’s senior team entered into the fray next, in a friendly against Portugal. The two sides had already met in Luxembourg on Friday, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the German national team, taking a 30:28 win.

This time around, Portugal avenged that defeat, securing an entertaining 32:30 win, taking advantage of Germany’s seven new internationals, as the team was just starting to gel.

The new captain of the German side, line player Johannes Golla, who replaced legendary left wing Uwe Gensheimer, who retired this year, was the top scorer of his side, with four goals. Portugal’s Miguel Alves led his side with seven goals.

“The game was fun despite the defeat, just because of the setting, played during the Day of Handball. For us, it was an extremely important week with many insights to be discovered. The young players, who are new to the squad, need time. I found their performance very promising,” said Germany’s coach, Alfred Gislason, according to the German Handball Federation’s website.

The highlight of the “Tag des Handballs” was the German women’s team’s friendly game against Russia, the silver medallists at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

With the IHF Women’s World Championship just around the corner, in December, this was one of the last occasions for Henk Groener, Germany’s coach, to calibrate his team’s performance.

Making do without crucial players like backs Emily Bölk and Alicia Stolle, line player Meike Schmelzer and goalkeeper Dinah Eckerle, who remained at their clubs, Germany enjoyed an impressive 28:27 win against the Russian side.

Russia started the game better, taking a 6:2 lead after 10 minutes and also led at the break, 16:14. However, Germany bounced back and had centre back Alina Grijseels in fine form. Grijseels, the top scorer of the DELO EHF Champions League this season, added five goals in the match to seal the win for her side.

It was Germany’s first win against Russia in more than eight years, a promising result ahead of Spain 2021, where they will be facing Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in an action-packed Group E.

“I think it is great that so many people came together like today because of handball and not just because of a team, but because of the sport,” said Germany’s coach, Henk Groener, after the game in Düsseldorf.
 

Photos: DHB/Sascha Klahn