Heuberger: "Everyone knows how important the qualification is"

While the German national team did not qualify for the EHF EURO 2014, its head coach, Martin Heuberger, nevertheless came to Denmark for the main round and final weekend.

In Herning, host city for the final weekend, he experienced first hand the draw for the World Championship 2015 Play-offs in June 2014 when his team will take to the court against Poland in a double header for a spot at final tournament in Qatar in January 2015.

"Poland are definitely the strongest opponents we could possibly meet," Heuberger says. "But a draw is a draw and we take it as it comes.

"At the latest since this EURO, Poland's strengths are well-known to everyone. My colleague Michael Biegler (Poland's head coach) has several top stars in his team; such as goalkeeper Slawomir Szmal, centre back Bartlomiej Jaszka and line player Bartosz Jurecki, just to name one axis.

"However, that doesn't change our goal: We want to be successful in both play-off matches and qualify for the World Championship.

"Everyone knows how important this qualification is for German handball and now is the chance for everyone to admit to this goal."

Heuberger was impressed by the performance of EHF EURO 2014 champions, France, who took a 41:32 victory against Denmark in the EHF EURO 2014 Final.

"France won against Denmark due to their impressive attack.

"I didn't see anything fundamentally new at this EURO, but one fact was re-confirmed: Every top team has top players whose individual class help the team. France's Nikola Karabatic is the archetype for this.

"If you have someone like him in the team, everything works easier. Together with the clubs we have to work hard to develop such key players also for the German national team."