Klein: "We cannot change the past"
For Germany, all eyes are on qualifying for the EHF EURO 2012 after a disappointing World Championship campaign. Before the decisive matches against Hungary, German captain Isabell Klein (27, Buxtehuder SV) talked with ehf-euro.com about the present and the past – and the fact that both her and her husband Dominik Klein, left winger in the German men's team, will both miss the Olympics later this year.
Heading into the clash with Hungary, both them and Germany have four points on their account after winns against Azerbaidjan and Belarus.
ehf-euro.com: After a gap of several weeks: How could the failure at the World Championship - where you were ranked 17th - happen?
Isabell Klein: We have already started to analyse our performance in Brazil – and since then nothing has changed for me. Starting with a victory against eventual World Champions Norway should have given us the confidence to go on, but unconsciously it put us under pressure and then we became unsure, when our series of defeats started. It was a mental problem but every player took responsibility for their own part in it, noboby was satisfied with their own performance. We have to work harder to improve as individuals.
ehf-euro.com: How do you feel about missing the Olympics – especially as your husband won't be there either?
Isabell Klein: It is a huge disappointment, as the Olympics are the highest pinnacle you can reach in sport. To experience the Olympics together with my husband Dominik would have been even greater.
ehf-euro.com: So how did both of you cope with this situation?
Isabell Klein: That's just the way it is in sport! Success and failure are close friends. Of course Dominik is disappointed in the same way and our situations were the same so we could understand each other very well.
ehf-euro.com: The next objective is the EHF EURO 2012 finals in the Netherlands in December. How important would a good result be for the whole of women’s handball in Germany?
Isabell Klein: The whole team is looking ahead, we cannot change the past. And when you carry those bad memories in your head all the time, you cannot be successful. The first task is to qualify for the Netherlands. We want to continue the way we started with our head coach Heine Jensen – the way we started with the World Championship qualification and the preparation for Brazil. I am convinced that this way will be a successful one.
ehf-euro.com: Will those decisive EHF EURO qualification matches against Hungary be something of a redemption?
Isabell Klein: No, redemption is not the right word. We look ahead, not behind and we want to play good and successful handball.
ehf-euro.com: Is it a good omen for Germany that you had beaten Hungary in the 2011 qualification for the World Championship?
Isabell Klein: The Hungarian team has changed, just as we have too. We know that it was a massive achievement to beat them last year. But we know that we can beat them – and this is our objective.
ehf-euro.com: In Trier, where the second leg will take place, a German national team has never lost an international match – is that another good omen?
Isabell Klein: That sounds good. I am looking forward to playing in this arena and hope that we will have a huge crowd.
ehf-euro.com: In 2017 Germany will host the Women’s World Championship – is this tournament a long-term objective for you?
Isabell Klein: I have learnt in life that you should walk step by step. Of course, a World Championship on home turf is an incredible experience and I would be glad to be part of it. But so many things can happen in five years. Let’s wait and see what the future will bring.
Photo: DHB/Sascha Klahn
Further Information
 Find more information on the Women's EHF EURO 2012 Qualification HERE.
View more detailed information on the event on the Official EHF EURO 2012 Website.
www.ehf-euro.com/NED2012/
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TEXT: Björn Pazen
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