Franz Semper and Nils Lichtlein shine in the game against Italy

It is sometimes difficult when handball players make their debut in the middle of a tournament. Because the entire team is in a rhythm that the newcomer has to pick up. Things went almost perfectly for Semper: he came on as a substitute in the 36th minute and 112 seconds later he scored his third goal. Semper did simple things: start up, climb up, heave in. With the clarity of his actions, Semper was good for the game. “He came in with the speed and confidence that we needed,” praised captain Johannes Golla.

It was the phase in which the lead grew to a reassuring five or six goals. He was “very happy with how it went,” said Semper, who scored a total of five goals: “I’ve accumulated my luck in the last four or five games. Now I could use everything and throw it in.”

Nils Lichtlein is also convinced that he could still be important if Juri Knorr is out for a longer period

Semper is a highly gifted player who has repeatedly been slowed down by serious injuries (including two torn cruciate ligaments). He was considered the natural successor to Steffen Weinhold and Kai Häfner in the right backcourt; before Renars Uscins arrived, who experienced a steep rise at the Olympics in Paris when Semper had to stay at home injured again. Since his first international match in October 2018, Semper has only made a little more than 20 appearances for the national team. He missed several major tournaments. There was always something.

However, Gislason didn’t just want to praise Semper. There was a second man who hadn’t played much so far, but who made a decisive contribution against Italy: Nils Lichtlein, 22. His day had started with the news that he had been promoted from number three to number two. Because Juri Knorr had to stay in the hotel with an infection, Luca Witzke was initially given the job of managing the game against Italy. And when he had struggled for half a half, Lichtlein got his chance.

The Berliner, who won the U21 world championship title in 2023 together with players like David Späth and Renars Uscins, is considered a super-talented director of the future, but he always had a harder time with Gislason in the national team than in the Füchse club. Gislason sees Lichtlein’s great talent; However, he likes complete players that he attacks and Defense can be used. Lichtlein, who is rather slender compared to the team, usually only plays in attack and is replaced by a teammate for defense.

But now Lichtlein was allowed to play, and the German game immediately picked up speed. The left-hander knows how to quickly shift the attack in one direction or the other and quickly push into the gaps. Lichtlein scored four goals against the Italians and he “played very, very well,” praised Gislason.

The Icelander will actually be able to benefit from the breadth of his squad in the second half of the World Cup. In the first games, Gislason gave Uscin all responsibility in the right back. Since the Olympics, he has been considered the first power in his position and basically played through, even though other left-handers were sitting on the bench or in the stands. Gislason now recognized that Uscins “made a very tired impression” and took the Hanoverian off the field for a longer period of time. Semper took advantage of his chance and should now be substituted more quickly if Uscins weakens.

On Saturday against Tunisia, some of the frequent players in the team can get a break

Lichtlein, who operates more often in the middle than in the half-right backfield, could also be important in the knockout round, which begins for the German team on Wednesday in Oslo against an as yet unknown quarter-final opponent. Gislason expressed skepticism as to whether Juri Knorr would be back in full possession of his strength by then. Such an infection can be stubborn. On Saturday in the last main round game against Tunisia (8.30 p.m. / ZDF), Knorr will definitely stay out, and frequent players like Golla, Uscins and Julian Köster should also receive less playing time. This means a new chance for Lichtlein and Semper to convince the national coach even more.

But first it’s time to take a deep breath and shake off tension. The move into the quarter-finals is perfect, the minimum goal at the World Cup has been achieved, all of this “finally takes the pressure off” for the German team, said Lichtlein, “anything can happen from the quarter-finals onwards”. Lichtlein would like to test how far it goes. Not from the bench, but right in the middle of the action.