By Sports Reporter/Doha


Two matches made Henning Fritz legendary: the 2004 Olympic quarter-final in Athens, when he saved three shots against Spain in the penalty shoot-out and the 2007 World Championship final against Poland, when he was the German tower of power. But in the latter an injury forced him from the court 15 minutes before the game’s end – later his teammates carried him to the top of the podium.
The 40-year-old Fritz was the goalkeeper of the ‘golden German generation’, which won gold medals at the 2004 European championship and the 2007 World Championship, Olympic silver in 2004 and World Championship silver in 2003.
Fritz started his career in Magdeburg, winning two European Cup titles, then transferred to THW Kiel, becoming EHF Champions League winner and a four-time German champion, before he made it to Rhein Neckar Löwen after becoming world champion.
His personal list of awards is even longer. He was named best goalkeeper of the 2003 and 2007 World Championships, the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2004 European championship. His biggest trophy was to become IHF World Handball Player of the year in 2004, the first time a goalkeeper earned the distinction.
In this interview, Henning Fritz talks about his expectations for the 2015 World Championship in Qatar, for the German team – and about his favourites in Doha.
What do you expect from the Qatar 2015 World Championship?
Henning Fritz: A warm event! Usually all those World and European Championships are carried out in countries with snow and low temperatures. In 2015 it will be a real pleasure for all players and fans to see the sun when they exit the arenas – something completely new for the last decades.
Have you ever played in Doha?
Henning Fritz: When I was player for THW Kiel, we had some test matches in the Gulf Region, but unfortunately not in Doha.
Which teams are your personal main contenders to win the gold medal?
Henning Fritz: I believe the same teams which had been semi-finallists at the 2014 European championship will make it to the semis again – France, Denmark, Spain and Croatia. But maybe some surprises can occur, as many more teams have a quite realistic chance to fight for the medals. My main contender is France, my prediction for the final is France vs. Denmark – with the best current goalkeepers in the world facing each other, Thierry Omeyer and Niklas Landin.
What about the German team?
Henning Fritz: They have proved that on a perfect day they can beat all teams in the world. But on a weak day they can lose against any other team. They start in a very tough group, so my major hope for their performances is that they are able to stand strong in defence. Some new players will inject fresh blood to the team, and we can count on highly strong wing players. So I am optimistic that with our new coach Dagur Sigurdsson a result is possible which will enable the German team to remain in the race for the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio.
Rio is also the dream destination of the Qatari team – can they produce a surprise on home ground?
Henning Fritz: Qatar can count on one of the best coaches in the world, a true expert, Valero Rivera. And they have one of the best goalkeeper duos in the world with Danijel Saric and Goran Stojanovic. Their team is strong and I am sure that they make it to the eighth-finals.