Interview with the Danish national coach Jan Pytlick before the WCh in Brazil
Jan Pytlick led the Danish women to two Olympic victories (2000 and 2004) as well as ECh Gold in 2002 – the second Olympic victory was the last title of the Danes though; the last medal (Silver) at major events dates back to the 2004 ECh. From 2005 to 2007 Pytlick was club coach, before he returned to the national team. He could however not prevent his team from failing to qualify for the 2007 WCh and thus from missing the 2008 Olympics. After a new formation host Denmark reached the semi-final of last year’s ECh, but missed a medal, as they finished fourth. Now Pytlick has high hopes that his team will take a decisive step towards the Olympic Games at the WCh in Brazil – in his opinion the circle of favourites is larger than ever before though.
At the 2010 ECh you led Denmark to the fourth rank and thus back to the top of the world – how possible is it that your team will achieve a similar result in Brazil?
Pytlick: That’s very hard to tell. I think that up to eleven teams may have reasonable hopes for the medals in Brazil – including Russia, Norway, France, Sweden, Romania, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Korea, Brazil and Montenegro. Never before in the history of Women’s World Championships have there been so many favourites. Prior to a WCh there are normally three to four favourites, but this time it’s different – that’s exactly why it’s so difficult for us to reach the semi-final. We can lose to any of these ten teams, but we can also beat all of them.
Which one of these eleven teams is your top favourite for the WCh title?
Pytlick: I think that Russia and France have the best chances, followed by Norway and Germany. If Brazil can stand the pressure in front of the home audience, they are not to be underestimated, as all of their key players are playing in Europe. Behind them are Sweden and Korea.
How do you rate your preliminary round group?
Pytlick: Denmark, Sweden and Croatia will compete for the first three ranks, as Argentina, Ivory Coast and Uruguay are not as good as these three top teams which play at the same level.
How important is it to become group winner?
Pytlick: Absolutely important, taking into account that our opponent in the eighth-final comes from Group C including Brazil, France and Romania. If you don’t become group winner, the eighth-final match will in any case be super tough. All of these matches would be fifty-fifty matches, where my team can also be eliminated. That’s why we’re really keen to come in first.
How do you evaluate the development of your team during the last two years in which you have effected major changes?
Pytlick: The development was increasing in 2010 which was a really good year. In 2011 we’ve had numerous problems and things haven’t worked out too well. We still have a very young team which is in the development stage and needs to gain further experience.
Many things have changed in the Danish league; young Danish women have been playing much longer, since the international top stars left. What are the effects?
Pytlick: The Danish league is facing big financial problems. By now all international top players have left our league, and the level has significantly decreased. For that reason our young players cannot learn that much and develop properly anymore. It would be better if some top players were still here, and the competition in the Danish league would be of a higher quality, considering the national team. Our players can hardly gain any experience in the league anymore.
Nevertheless the Danish youth and junior teams have been very successful in the last two years – are we going to see some women’s juniors already at the WCh in Brazil?
Pytlick: Maybe one or two, but actually it’s still too early for them. They have to develop step by step, and we don’t want to exploit them. They still have to work on their physical condition. Most of them are thus not yet ready for the women’s team.
You were coaching the Danish team when they last won the Olympics. Is London the very aim?
Pytlick: Yes, of course. The focus of the whole team is on the Olympic Games, especially because we didn’t take part in Beijing in 2008. We want to reach one of the three qualification tournaments at least.
The Danish men’s team became Vice World Champion in 2011, and also the Danish men’s clubs are extremely successful, after the women had taken centre stage for many years. What’s the current situation in Denmark?
Pytlick: It’s more difficult for us than before, as we’ve fallen behind. Spectators and sponsors always expect Danish teams to win medals. Denmark has already won five medals this year through the men’s team as well as four men’s and women’s youth and junior teams at World and European Championships. The only ones who have not yet taken a medal are the Danish women. I’m glad that we still have the chance to do so in Brazil.