Training at SG Flensburg-Handewitt is on the back burner this week. No fewer than ten players are away with their national teams. They are competing in lucrative international matches or hoping to qualify for the World Championship next January.
Today, Monday, the DHB squad is gathering in Cologne. Almost at the same time, the Danish national team is meeting in Copenhagen for a training camp. Two international matches are scheduled for the weekend. First, the Royal Arena in Copenhagen (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), then the LANXESS Arena in Cologne (Sunday, 3:30 p.m.) will host a rematch of the European Championship final. “These will be two top-level matches in front of huge crowds,” says Johannes Golla with excitement. Marko Grgić will also be playing for Germany. Five SG teammates were named to the Danish squad. “It’s always a special pleasure to play with the guys,” says Lasse Møller, who received a late invitation last Tuesday. Kevin Møller, Emil Jakobsen, Simon Pytlick, and Niclas Kirkeløkke were already on the roster.
World Championship Qualification
Matches This week, 20 national teams are vying for ten remaining World Championship spots for the European continent. For the decisive playoffs, the Slovenian team can once again count on Blaž Blagotinšek in addition to Domen Novak. The Olympic bronze medalists will face Montenegro on Thursday (in Podgorica) and Sunday (in Koper). After his longest SG appearance to date, Adin Faljić is traveling to the Balkans “feeling good.” The handball players from Bosnia and Herzegovina will first play against the Faroe Islands in Tuzla on Thursday and then travel to the North Atlantic for the return match on Saturday.