The raucous cheers of fresh face David Späth echoed throughout the sold-out Munich Olympic Hall, even surpassing the usual uproar for 10,000 spectators. The young goalkeeper's exceptional display in Germany's victory against Egypt, sealing the win in a thrilling finale, had earned him the loudest applause.
National team coach Alfred Gislason now finds himself in a predicament - a tough decision to make between keeping veteran Andreas Wolff in goal for the home European Championships in January, or handing the mantle to the youthful challenger.
Initially, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen goalkeeper was brought in as backup during the final week of training, following Wolff's recovery and handball legend Silvio Heinevetter's return. But by the end of the training stint, Späth had moved up the ranks, now considered a reliable second-in-command.
"The lad's a prodigious talent," Gislason praised, highlighting Späth's ability to create an electric atmosphere. "Being replaced in a critical moment makes me proud. I wanted to repay this trust with a performance. I'm overjoyed that I managed to do so quite decently," said Späth.
While Späth has surpassed Heinevetter, Wolff's injury history remains a concern. The 32-year-old world-class goalkeeper has been recovering from a slipped disc and hasn't quite regained his usual speed. Gislason reported, "He's pain-free. He claims himself that he lacks the speed he's accustomed to. But that will come back in the following two months."
With the home European Championship set to take place from January 10 to 28, 2024, the race for spots in the squad is fierce. If Wolff is fully fit, he'll likely be the primary goalkeeper. Späth, however, has proven himself capable of becoming a factor in the European Championship proceedings.
"He made some decisive saves. Seeing his form at the U21 World Cup could be a game-changer for the European Championship," said teammate Lukas Mertens. Juri Knorr also praised Späth's "overpowering presence, strong physicality, and the right instinct."
The DHB team's new sensation, Späth, has shown exceptional form during the preparations for the home European Championship, leaving his mark against the team's veterans. His aspirations for the European Championship nomination are high, but he remains humble, eager to learn from Golfer's Wolff and Heinevetter, recognizing the journey ahead.
Gislason plans to announce the squad, estimated to be approximately 18 players, shortly before Christmas. Späth continues to train diligently, hoping to learn from his mentors, and drawing inspiration from their path to greatness. With just a few months left until the competition, the race for the starting goalkeeper spot between Wolff and Späth intensifies.
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- Späth has been crucial to Germany's success in high-pressure situations, particularly in the main round matches. For instance, during the game against Czechia, he made 12 saves in the first half and ended the game with 21 saves and a 53% save rate. His performance against Tunisia was equally impressive, with 12 saves in the first half, concluding the match with 21 saves and a 53% save rate[3][4].
- While Wolff has also been vital to the team's success, sources do not offer specific comparisons or in-depth analysis of the competition between the two goalkeepers for the starting spot[1]. Though Wolff displayed a strong performance against Portugal, with five saves in the first five minutes, the dynamics of the competition are not fully detailed in the available sources.
