Handball Coach Gislason Addresses High Expectations for Germany's 2027 Home World Championship

Handball national coach Alfred Gislason is focused on managing expectations ahead of Germany's hosting of the 2027 World Championship. He is particularly concerned about the public's fixation on a potential final showdown against Denmark, a scenario that has led to disappointment in recent major tournaments.

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The question that reaches me is: How will the final against Denmark be?

"The question that reaches me is: How will the final against Denmark be?" Gislason remarked during an event hosted by streaming service Dyn and the Handball Bundesliga. He referenced Germany's losses to Denmark in the finals of the 2026 European Championship and the 2024 Olympic Games, highlighting that such assumptions are premature. Gislason emphasized that neither Denmark's progression to the final nor Germany's participation is guaranteed.

Adding to the pressure, Germany was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Championship by Portugal. Despite this setback, Gislason remains optimistic about the current squad's trajectory. "The team is on a super path," the 66-year-old coach stated, noting the favorable age structure suggests continuous improvement.

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The team is on a super path.

Gislason affirmed the team's ambition: "We have high goals, of course, we want to achieve a lot." He believes the German team will become increasingly difficult to defeat. In the preliminary round of the 2027 Home World Championship, Germany is set to compete against Serbia, Tunisia, and Uruguay. The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 13 to 31.

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We have high goals, of course, we want to achieve a lot.