European Handball Championships: Hanning-Interview: No more alibis and hiding

After the poor preliminary round at the European Championships in Croatia, Germany will continue with the main round against the Czech Republic on Friday (18.15 hrs in the LIVETICKER) against the Czech Republic.

Before leaving for Varazdin, Bob Hanning answered journalists’ questions at the German team’s hotel. The DHB Vice President found clear words.

Question: Mr. Hanning, at the 25:25 against Macedonia the German team has given up the possible victory in the last few seconds. How did you experience the situation?

Bob Hanning: First of all, I would like to say that I found what Kiril Lazarov did during the Macedonians’ last attack outstanding. He indicated to everyone that only one passport was still allowed, but there were two of them. Then came the opening game, Silvio Heinevetter happily held the throw. Nevertheless, if one of our players had done that, I would still be walking through the old town of Zagreb with my arms raised. That was a great idea, I’ll give it to Lazarov.

Question: And what do you say about the DHB team’s completely failed last attack, at the end of which Philipp Weber played a bad pass on Patrick Groetzki and therefore it was no longer possible to close the deal?

Hanning: That was the worst decision we could make. But Philipp Weber is a debutante and therefore I certainly do not condemn him for this one situation.

Question: How do you rate the performance against Macedonia as a whole?

Hanning: The setting has fitted, which is a basic requirement. Macedonia surprised us with the seventh fielder, but we solved it well. We didn’t consistently go for the counterattacks. This is also a lack of quality, and I do not want to make it bland.

Question: And what do you say about goalkeeper performance?

Hanning: At some point we didn’t have a goalkeeper performance any more. Wolff has hardly held any more, Heinevetter now also not outstanding. We cannot be said to have received help from the goalkeepers. And this time Lemke played. One tries to correct and help as a trainer. That’s what the national coach does, he tries to give the troops stability. But now the team has to come back with something.

Question: Why was Jannik Kohlbacher not allowed to take a single second against Macedonia?

Hanning: Kohlbacher is the most talented circular runner we have. At least if we’re talking about the attack. However, we know that Hendrik Pekeler and Patrick Wiencek are better in the defence, we don’t need to discuss this. Now Finn Lemke should play, but also Kohlbacher. This gives the following tactical decision: Kohlbacher would stand on the plate, but Lemke and Pekeler are to appear in the defence. In other words, you would have to open the entire center for two changes when switching. Of course you don’t want that, and that’s the problem.

Question: The overall impression is that the concept of national coach Christian Prokop may not fit the team.

Hanning: The concept hardly decides from the previous one. Handball is easy to read: crossing, pushing, running in and locking. This sport is that simple. Those who do it better make a crossroads, a one-on-one situation or a back-room throw better. Hiding behind a tactic is not appropriate.

Question: Prokop has resorted to players he knows. With Bastian Roscheck and Maximilian Janke it hasn’t worked yet, right?

Hanning: I am not Roscheck’s Minister of Defence, but the situation with him was similar to that of Kohlbacher. We didn’t want to move two people from the center. Of course you have to admit that it didn’t work, and also because Julius Kühn was not a central player with whom it worked under stress. In my opinion, the national coach has corrected it correctly. And as far as Janke is concerned, I have to say honestly that I haven’t seen a half left on our team that was better than him.

Page 1: Hanning about Prokop’s concept and Roscheck

Page 2: Hanning criticizes Kühn and Fäth and gets angry about the Sad Boys