GROUP 2
SPAIN
Bratislava, 19 January – quotes from the Spanish media call by coach Jordi Ribera (ESP) and goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas (ESP) before the main round start against Germany on Wednesday.
Jordi Ribera (ESP) – coach
On the opener against Germany:
“Matches against Germany are always special, especially in the main round of a major tournament. Germany count on an extremely well-organised defence, they play very physical, so for us it will be difficult to build up our type of match play in attack. Most important will be to control the ball and avoid turnovers. For both sides, definitely, the defence will be the key to win.”
On whether his team are the favourites in this group:
“We play the two top matches against the other group winners within 24 hours, it will be hard to recover without a rest day in between, this fact might be decisive. Besides, Covid and injuries change the line-up of the teams every day, so you never know what happens, so maybe we see if we are the favourites, when we have played the first two matches.”
Gonzalo Perez de Vargas (ESP) – goalkeeper
On the importance of the goalkeepers in the match against Germany:
“We have three very good goalkeepers in our Spanish team, we play on a high level every day and of course the goalkeeper position is always the key. But there are so many good goalkeepers in our group, so we have to see, who is the best.”
On Germany:
“I do not think that we are the favourites, though we see a very different German team due to Covid. We have no fear, but we have respect for them, I expect a close match.”
On being the favourites in this group:
“No, we are not, this is a very equal group. We have beaten Sweden, but we have tough matches ahead. I am sure the first two main round matches will be crucial for our outcome, and our goal to proceed to the semi-finals.
On the dream of another trophy:
“Of course, we dream to make the treble trophy, we want to make it to the semis, but we keep it easy. We only focus on the next match, and if we win three of them, we are in the semi.”
GERMANY
Bratislava, 19 January – quotes from the German media call by coach Alfred Gislason (ISL), team captain Johannes Golla (GER) and the players Christoph Steinert (GER) and Paul Drux (GER) before the main round start against Spain on Wednesday.
Alfred Gislason (ISL) – coach
On the chances in the main round:
“We have three really hard matches against strong opponents – Poland, Spain and Norway – within four days, so we are happy that we can count on a wide squad. And this is handball, nothing is impossible for us now, as we carried two points to the main round.”
On the atmosphere in the team after nine Covid cases:
“The atmosphere is really well, though the players only see each other for training and matches, as they are separated one by one in single rooms. We are looking forward to the match against Spain, it really excites us to face them. Of course, all players on court fight for those, who are currently in isolation, we really work well as a team.”
Christoph Steinert (GER), right wing
On how he celebrated his birthday on the match day against Poland:
“Our cook baked me a cake and sang a short “Happy birthday” – that was all, no presents, no party. But due to the current situation, it is obviously not possible. Of course, the victory was the best present for me. And after the match and the dinner, the only thing I wanted to do is to sleep.”
On his first major tournament at the age of 30:
“It is really fun to be here, we have a great atmosphere in the team, and maybe due to those Covid cases we even stick more together, not physically of course. I am really looking forward to my first ever match against Spain on Thursday. When I realised that I was put into the whatsapp group for those players, who will be nominated for the EHF EURO, I was super-happy, and latest when our coach called me, I knew that it will happen.”
On the quality of the German team:
“The current situation underlines the quality we have in German handball, I do not think any other nation has replacement like we could bring yesterday. And maybe this general quality – also on my position – is the reason, why it took some time for me to become national team player.”
On the main round:
“We have a kind of four finals now, if we win all of them, we are in the semis, but the dream can come to an rapid end, it is really hard to predict this group.”
Paul Drux (GER), centre back
On jumping in after several Covid cases in the German team:
“I was just at my neighbour in Berlin, when I was told that our head coach tried to phone me. Of course, I immediately agreed to join the team, though I had announced not to play the EHF EURO after recovering from several injuries. I packed my things, travelled to Vienna, then to Bratislava – and as we have to go into isolation after our test upon arrival, I saw my teammates for the first time in the dressing room of the arena. Even a day later, I have talked to all of them except some “hello”. It was a really strange situation, but in the end we beat Poland – and I guess even the Poles did not know what to do against our newly-composed line-up.”
On the fact that he would have been the goalkeeper, if Johannes Bitter would get injured during the match against Poland:
“Yes, this is true, our assistant coach asked before the match, who can play in the goal, if this happens, as we only had one goalkeeper. I agreed – and I really got angry on our coach that I was not allowed at least for one penalty…no, to be serious: I never have experienced this situation, and now it feels good that a new goalkeeper arrives, as Andy Wolff and Till Klimpke are in isolation.”
On the match against Spain:
“We always face them at any tournament, and the last matches had all been close – but unfortunately for us without a happy-end. Maybe it works this time, and I am confident that we have a chance to beat them.”
Johannes Golla (GER) – team captain and line player
On the “new” German team:
“All our replacement players fit well into the team, we saw it against Poland. We have top quality in Germany, even when we talk about more than 25 players. The most thrilling moment every day is waiting for the next test results. Otherwise, all players are in their rooms, but we are connected online to prepare.”
On the keys against Spain:
“In the last events, we always lost against them. For 45 minutes we were on an equal level, then we caused too many mistakes. Mainly their world class goalkeepers stood in our way. When we reduce the mistakes, we can win. I hope our time will come tomorrow.”
RUSSIA
Bratislava, 19 January – quotes from the Russian media call by coach Velimir Petkovic (GER) and the players Dmitrii Santalov (RUS) and Mikhail Vinogradov (RUS) before the main round start against Sweden on Wednesday.
Velimir Petkovic (GER) – coach Russia
On the chances of his team:
“Unfortunately, five of our players were tested positive, including Mark Sergey Kosotorov, so now we have to change some players. But we said to each other that we do not talk that much about this situation. We hope that those players might return for the end of the main round. I am very satisfied with how we played in the preliminary round, and we want to continue like this in the next stage. We bring two points to Bratislava, this is important.”
On the keys against Sweden:
“In our team, it is all about defence, this is our strongest part of our match play. And I was asked: Petko, where did you find all those tall boys?” – and I said: “Russia is a big country, you just have to select the right tall boys.” This is how our defence works. Sweden will play very fast, and this is why we have to stop their counter-attacks.”
On the Russian rise at the EHF EURO 2022:
“We already played a strong World Championship in Egypt, now we continue in this way. The match against Norway gave us confidence, we aim to fight like this in the main round and try to develop our team to return among the top nations.”
Dmitrii Santalov (RUS) – left back:
On the match against Sweden:
“We have prepared very intensively on their attack, as we focus on our defence. We are expecting a very hard game. We had shown our abilities against Norway, now we hope to do the same against Sweden.”
Whether they belong to the favourites in their main round group:
“We will do our best after a strong first phase of the tournament, we want to show good games, and of course we aim to proceed to the semi-finals.”
Mikhail Vinogradov (RUS) – left back:
On the Russian dream of their first medal since Olympic bronze in 2004:
“We have a good team for the future and of course we aim for the best here, but we do not look ahead so far, but only on the next match.”
On the match against Sweden:
“We have to show a strong defence performance, if we want to beat them. But we have beaten Norway and have to do the same against Sweden. This is what we go for.”
SWEDEN
Bratislava, 19 January – quotes from the Swedish media call by coach Glenn Solberg (NOR)
Glenn Solberg (NOR) - coach Sweden
On their chances to progress to the semi-finals:
“I have always said that the EHF EURO is the toughest competition, because every mistake puts you under a lot of pressure. Currently, it will be very difficult to qualify to the final weekend, because we are on zero points. But if we win the game against Russia, we will have two points and then we can start thinking about a semi-finals place.“
On the game against Russia:
"Russia have a very good team, with a lot of experienced players, who have been amazing in this tournament, winning all three games. It will be a very difficult match for us, against an opponent which is in a very good form. They have a very good defence, did not concede a lot of goals in the preliminary round and we have been watching a lot of videos to try to find their weaknesses. In attack, we need to play better as a team, to be a collective, not individuals, and correct our mistakes, while the defence also needs strengthening out a bit.“
POLAND
Bratislava, 19 January – quotes from the Poland media call by coach Patryk Rombel (POL)) and player Michal Daszek (POL) before the main round start against Norway on Thursday.
Patryk Rombel (POL), coach:
On the match against Norway:
“Norway count on counter-attacks and play very fast, so we must stop those counter-attacks. Compared to the match against Germany, we need to play better in the central defence. But on first hand, I am happy that we proceeded. As usual, now we wait for the Covid test results, and have to see, who can play tomorrow.”
On the expectations at home:
“I do not follow any media, but I heard that the TV rates were growing match by match, it is great that handball is back in Poland and that we are back among the best 12 teams in Europe after four, five years. I hope we can continue like this.”
Michal Daszek (POL), right wing:
On the role of the wings on both sides in the match against Norway:
“Norway use their wings mainly for counter-attacks, we are aware of this. But right, we have experts on our left and right wing too. But an important stop will be to stop them from scoring easy goals.”
Whether Russia are a role model, as they beat Norway already:
“We analysed many scenes from this match, and Russia really played great, they won the match in defence. This must be our key too. But of course Norway are warned now by this defeat and will adapt, as they have clever players.”
On the growing interest in handball in Poland during the EHF EURO:
“We made a good job in the first part of the tournament and we want to bring more fans to the TV going on with good games in the main round.”
