After the preliminary round defeat against Serbia (27-30), former national players Stefan Kretzschmar, Pascal Hens, and Michael Kraus voiced criticism of Gislason on Dyn’s “Harzblut” talk show. 2007 world champion Hens complained that “leadership from the sidelines was missing.” He said there was “no plan B” in the attack. Kraus, another world champion from 19 years ago, was even more blunt: “Alfred, coached terribly, he was outcoached.”
Gislason pleased with DHB team’s progress.
Just over two weeks after the team was on the brink of an early exit, Germany claimed its first European Championship medal since winning the title in 2016 on Sunday. “If there’s even the slightest bit of a scrappy game, every one of these self-promoters is ready to take a shot at us,” said Gislason. “So I can just can't keep calm.”
The 66-year-old is “extremely” pleased with the development of his team. “That makes me even happier than the silver medal. And the progress isn’t over yet.”