The DHB team received a resounding slap in the face from Spain at the European Championship in Croatia. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff in particular finds clear words. And the criticism of national coach Christian Prokop continues to rise.
It was a bit like Ash Wednesday, which happened in the hour after the German European Championship knockout in Varazdin. Immediately helpers began to cart all kinds of objects out of the arena. Tables, dressing rooms and drinks, everything had to go out. After all, the tournament is over for the city in the north of the country – as well as for the German team.
The only difference to Ash Wednesday is that this day is usually preceded by glittering celebrations. The DHB team, on the other hand, acted in Croatia almost the whole time as if the cat had been there from the beginning. Inhibited, nervous, just not fully there.
The sobering result from DHB’s point of view: Six games, two wins, two draws, two defeats and thus fifth place in the main group of rounds II. For example, behind the Czech Republic, for example, which is a great team, but which embodies a respectable second class quality.
“You have to be honest: you don’t have any place in the semi-finals with this record,”said goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter,”We missed our goal. A lot of things didn’t go as well as they should at this tournament,”said national coach Christian Prokop:” But I was able to gain important experience and believe that this will be seen in the future.
However, improvements do not have to be made in the future, but immediately. What the DHB side showed in the second half against Spain, some of which had already been taunted as “Sad Boys”, was the low point of a bad tournament in which the team’s determination was evident, but the conviction was always lacking.
In the 34. In the second minute it was still 15:15, almost exactly ten minutes later 15:23. Eight goals in a row were scored by the Spaniards, while Germany was left without a goal for just under twelve minutes. All the insecurity that has been felt repeatedly during the course of the tournament has now appeared in concentrated form. One technical mistake after another.
“We played a catastrophic game in the second half,”said Andreas Wolff:”Body language was bad, we gave up. “We didn’t keep a cool head and throw the balls out like a school team in front.”
“We gave the Spaniards the victory,”added Prokop:”I tried to play with the seventh outfielder so that we could get in again. But this measure has also failed because we got three hits on the empty gate.”
The 39-year-old was subject to mistrust throughout the European Championship. In the coming days and weeks, the critical voices against him will certainly not diminish.
“Should I say something against the coach now? That’s bullshit! We’ve made too many mistakes. What do you want to put the coach in front of the cart? Everyone has to grasp their own noses,”Heinevetter made it clear and was right. At least it would be far too easy just to blame Prokop for the failure.
In an interview in the Mixed Zone, DHB Vice President Bob Hanning nevertheless clearly stated that the national coach must also question himself:”The coach is part of the team. He’s as much a part of the squad as I am and every single player is. That’s why the coach has to make his decisions just like I mean and the players have to work through them seriously. To come up with solutions to make things better in the future.”
However, there are no signs that the man from Saxony-Anhalt, who is still under contract with the DHB until 2022, will have to fear for his job after his first tournament. This, in turn, could soon change if a clear upward trend does not quickly emerge.
After all, Germany is hosting the World Cup together with Denmark in 2019. And the biggest handball association in the world can’t afford to be unsuccessful or even disastrous in front of its own fans.
“Everything”, answered Finn Lemke, whose initial nomination Prokop had been beaten up particularly fiercely by Prokop, when asked what had to be improved before the World Cup:”We have a long way to go. The way we played in Croatia, we can’t present ourselves at the home World Cup.”
The relentless analysis, as Hanning announced, will take place in the next three weeks. Until then, coaches, officials and players have enough time to get a clear head:”We have to digest this shock. Then you can see further,”Heinevetter said and sneaked out of the Varazdin arena with his head lowered.