The most important questions about the handball team: does Andy Schmid stop now?

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Will we see Andy Schmid in the Nati jersey again?

The 40-year-old does not want to give the ultimate answer to the question. The 27:29 against North Macedonia was almost certainly Schmid’s farewell as a national player. He will decide in the coming days whether he will even finish the season at his club Kriens-Luzern.

Will we qualify for major tournaments without Schmid?

By expanding the number of teams to 24, qualification for a European Championship for Switzerland is always within reach. Switzerland will also have to rely on the luck of the draw in the World Cup qualifiers, which, unlike the European Championship, are not played in groups but with a second leg.

Who are the most important players of the future?

Nikola Portner (30) is the only Swiss with international level in the most important goalkeeping position. The Nati defense stands or falls with him. In the playmaker position, several candidates are competing to succeed Andy Schmid, with Bundesliga top scorer Manuel Zehnder (24) currently appearing to be in the lead. Samuel Röthlisberger (27, defense chief) and Lukas Laube (23, circle) from Stuttgart and their future teammate Lenny Rubin (27, left back) will also continue to play a key role.

Where are the largest construction sites?

The attack is again the problem child at the European Championship. Especially when the Schmid circulator axis is taken out of play. Lenny Rubin can certainly do more than he showed in Germany. The most difficult situation is the right backfield, where a left-handed player of international caliber is missing. Three tournament goals in three games are simply not enough from this position.

What are the next dates?

A World Cup is scheduled for January 2025 in Croatia, Denmark and Norway. Whether Switzerland qualifies will be decided in the play-offs (first and second legs) in May. Bitter: Due to the defeat in the last European Championship match against North Macedonia, the national team was not qualified. There is a real threat of being an adversary. The draw will take place on January 27. The national team will play two more test matches in March – against whom it is still unclear.

What will change under Nati coach Schmid?

The neo-coach will not turn everything upside down. Due to the limited player pool and only four or five national team dates per year, he doesn’t have the opportunity to do that. A focus should be placed on young talent to create better permeability between the individual U-national teams and the A-Nati. Schmid also strives for more breadth. In keeping with the Scandinavian success model, he wants to get involved in school sports.

Source : Blick