It's all or nothing for the Swiss handball team in Sunday's match against Poland. A win or a draw from 20:20 will certainly be enough to advance to the main round.
19.01.2025, 04:30
19.01.2025, 08:13
SDA
"We know that we're not the favorites," says goalkeeper and captain Nikola Portner. He even mentions the word sensation. However, a win against Poland would not be such a sensation, even if the Eastern Europeans have more experience on the big stage than the Swiss. Rather, it is a match between two teams on an equal footing, in which details will decide the outcome.
The last time the two teams met was five years ago in Gothenburg at the European Championship finals. Back then, the Swiss won 31:24, their fourth win in a row against the Eastern Europeans. National coach Andy Schmid was still there as a player at the time. "I have fond memories of that game," says the 41-year-old. "But it's a completely different situation, they're different teams. Five years in top-level sport feels like 50 years."
Short night, many thoughts
Schmid's night after the heroic battle against Olympic silver medallists Germany (29:31), in which he was "extremely" surprised at how mature the young team played, was short. "I was in bed at 4.00 a.m., I think. Thoughts were constantly circling in my head about how it could have been. As a coach, you think about every scene from every player. It's a bit tedious, to be honest. I still have to find a way to switch off." In addition, they were up against opponents against whom millimetres would decide the outcome. This makes the coaching work all the more important.
Schmid describes the Poles as an unpleasant and physical team. "On the one hand, they have a lot of shooters, on the other hand, they have a playful right back," says the five-time Bundesliga MVP. "But it's not really about Poland, it's about whether we manage to put the pedal to the metal. The most important point is the ability to suffer, the head will be more decisive than all the tactical finesse."
The greater responsibility is good for Rubin
Alongside Portner and defensive boss Samuel Röthlisberger, set-up man Lenny Rubin plays a key role in the Swiss game. The 2.05 m tall giant was his team's top scorer in the first two games of this tournament with eight and seven goals respectively. It seems to have worked that Schmid gave him a clear message at the Yellow Cup. "We've already had one or two arguments and discussed our mutual expectations," says Schmid.
Rubin adds: "They were very good discussions that worked." Although the Stuttgart backcourt player emphasizes that the brilliant director Manuel Zehnder, who suffered a serious knee injury at the Yellow Cup, is missing, he makes no secret of the fact that the "different team constellation" also brings advantages for him. "It's a different game with Manuel Zehnder, a lot is geared towards him. Now I'm given more responsibility, which gives me a good feeling. That's why things are going so well now."
That should not change against Poland. If the Swiss finish 4th and last in Group A, they will face a penalty task, so to speak. They would then have to travel to Croatia and compete in the so-called "Presidents Cup", in which places 25 to 32 are played off. This is to be avoided at all costs.