Remaining in the league: Dessau-Roßlau decisive against TuSEM Essen!

Remaining in the league: Dessau-Roßlau decisive against TuSEM Essen!

Next Sunday the time has finally come: the second division handball team Dessau-Roßlauer HV will meet TuSEM Essen in the decisive match to stay in the league. The game starts at 5 p.m. and couldn't be more important for coach Jörg Ludwig's team. In order to continue playing in the league next year, Dessau-Roßlau needs at least a draw. So the tension could hardly be higher.

The team can rely on the short-term release of Fritz-Leon Haake, who will be available again after the U21 World Cup placement game against Norway (33:28). His colleague Felix Göttler will also be there after they both experienced elimination in the quarter-finals against Sweden (26:32) on Thursday. This game marked the end of the medal dreams for the German juniors after they had mastered the group phase undefeated.

Fight to stay in the league

The release of Haake and Göttler probably came as a bit of a surprise, as both players showed good performances during the tournament. Ingo Meckes, the sports director of the German Handball Association, was full of praise for the U21 national team and their commitment. In addition, the last placement game takes place on Sunday in Katowice against Egypt, where Germany is fighting for fifth place.

Particularly outstanding was Julian Buchele, who started the tournament with 40 saves, followed by Frederik Höler, who caused quite a stir with seven-meter shots. But the joy of the sporting successes is clouded by the injuries of certain players. Magnus Grupe, a key player for the U21s, had to miss the game due to a torn Achilles tendon. National coach Martin Heuberger reported that this was a major setback for the team and appointed Florian Scheerer as a replacement.

Match results and statistics

Overall, the German U21 team achieved a respectable performance in the World Cup, considering they had previously finished in the top five. In addition to the remarkable achievements of Buchele and Höler, there are also numerous players who scored their goals. Jan Schmidt, for example, shone with 26 goals, including ten against Serbia, and is now the undisputed number one in the district.

But while some players want to find a worthy conclusion, Haake and Göttler have to pack their bags and go back to their clubs to play against Essen. The pressure is heavy on the shoulders of Dessau-Roßlauer, who will do everything they can to secure relegation, and the support of the fans could be crucial.

Such a scenario requires a high level of motivation and team spirit, and the coming days will show whether the Dessau-Roßlauer HV can steer things in the right direction.