There has been a lot going on in the past few days. The first course with the national team, the first international match, the first goal for Germany – for Max Beneke, last week brought a few firsts. “It’s a dream come true,” says the 19-year-old, who was appointed to the DHB squad for the first time this week by national coach Alfred Gislason.
For the Icelander, it was all about breaking new ground and trying out a few players before finalizing the squad for next year’s European Championships on home soil. On the one hand, the focus was on the district position, where relief for captain Johannes Golla should be created, but above all on the backcourt, which has recently been weakening again and again.
Therefore, four debutants were invited, who were praised by the national coach despite the 23:32 defeat against Sweden on Thursday. “They did a good job,” said Gislason, who particularly emphasized the right-back Renars Uscins from TSV Hannover-Burgdorf with his five goals.
The DHB selection will compete in the Max-Schmeling-Halle on Sunday
But position partner Beneke also scored on his debut – despite the tension, excitement and everything that goes with the emotional world of a game like this. “There are just the organizational things, the processes that you have to get used to. Everything is even more professional and much bigger,” says the handball player from VfL Potsdam, who also has the right to play a second game with the foxes and has already played through all the youth teams.
In this respect, there is already a lot of experience for his young age and he is reflective enough to know where to start when he plays with Germany in the last game of the Euro Cup on Sunday (3:35 p.m. / ARD) in the Max- Schmeling-Halle meets Spain. “That could still be improved. I have to use my strengths more and take my throws,” says Beneke.
At VfL he proves every week that he is extremely good at finishing and is one of the top scorers in the second Bundesliga with 171 goals in 31 matches. He is someone who, with his seamless hitting throw and his physicality, can become a threat to any defense and who can hit especially from a distance. And this is exactly where the national team is lacking. That’s why Beneke could complement the team as another type of player and show himself, while the number one in the position Kai Häfner is currently out due to illness.
However, the national team is another challenge – especially when it comes to games against Sweden or now Spain. Starting with the physique, through the moves to the handball players who are facing you. Therefore, for Beneke and his young colleagues, it is also about gaining experiences outside of the comfort zone. To be a little more relaxed next time, to internalize certain processes and to build up more and more routine.
After all, the U21s, who are also playing a friendly against Egypt on Sunday (1 p.m./Sportdeutschland.tv), are facing a home tournament this summer, in which Beneke and Co. want to crown themselves with the world championship title. And in the long run it’s also good for Gislason to have a few more alternatives. Be it for the EM 2024 or the World Cup 2027 in Germany.
Max Beneke certainly has that in the back of his mind. However, he can now play his first home game with the German national team in Berlin.
