06.01.2018, 11:36
Three left wings who will make their mark at EHF EURO 2018

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR #2: All very experienced left wings, Uwe Gensheimer, Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson and Michaël Guigou are likely to draw a lot attention in Croatia

Three left wings who will make their mark at EHF EURO 2018

With the Men’s EHF EURO 2018 approaching fast, ehf-euro.com presents an eight-part series focusing at the players to look out for in Croatia in January.

The second part puts the spotlight on the left wings.

Uwe Gensheimer, Germany

A winger has to be technically skilled and precise in his shots, as his angle is often very tight. He should also master some more refined shot variations. Uwe Gensheimer possesses all these skills, and, in addition, is effective on counter attacks.

Furthermore, he is reliable on penalty shots, which is another quality frequently seen by wingers – as being an efficient penalty shooter demands good shooting techniques, just as being a winger does. Considering all these qualities and adding his enormous experience, it is no wonder the Gensheimer is top scorer in the VELUX EHF Champions League at the winter break.

In the summer of 2016, he shocked many people by leaving Rhein-Neckar Löwen, where he had been playing his entire handball career. Paris Saint-Germain Handball got his signature on a contract, and the French powerhouse have definitely not had any reason to regret that yet.

Uwe Gensheimer is an asset to PSG just as he is to the German national team. With him in top form, the ‘Bad Boys’ could be well on their way to defending the title they won in Poland in 2016.

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson, Iceland

He became the successor of Gensheimer at Rhein-Neckar Löwen, and the winners of back-to-back German league titles have every reason to be content with that signing.

He is 38 years old but still going strong as Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson is doing great in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League as well as for Iceland. His impressive amount of individual training has added to the fact that he is still in perfect physical shape.

While not as fast anymore on the fast breaks, he can still outrun many a younger opponent – and once he is in position on the wing, he is able to make good use of almost any kind of pass getting from his teammates. His huge experience at top level is a further asset.

This experience does not only come from European top clubs like THW Kiel and FC Barcelona, where he played before joining Rhein-Neckar Löwen.

He is also the most experienced player by far in the Icelandic squad with 338 international games, in which he has scored an amazing 1,777 goals. If Iceland are to get far in Croatia this January, Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson will have to be at his best. There is every reason to expect that he will be, though, as stability is another of his qualities. 

Michaël Guigou, France

Is it a coincidence that the three left wings presented here all over 30? Probably, as there are also great young wingers, but the refined technique you need as a world-class wing is not only a question of talent.

It is also a quality you develop through long and thorough training. The third left wing to look out for is also way above 30, and he certainly possesses that refined technique. In fact, Michaël Guigou will be turning 36 on the day of the final (28 January). If France reach that final in Zagreb, it will be some way to be celebrating his birthday for the elegant Montpellier wing.

In possession of a brilliant technique, Guigou has stayed loyal to Montpellier HB throughout his career. That is a rare phenomenon among top players these days, and the club from Southern France should consider themselves lucky to have kept such a star in their roster.

Guigou has played a great part in Montpellier’s success in the Champions League this season, where the team finished top of Group D and qualified early for the play-offs for a Last 16 berth. In Croatia, Guigou will also be crucial to ‘Les Experts,’ as the French team have been nicknamed.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / ew / ts