\u201cI was watching every time I could watch the games (due to the time difference) and I think of that game against Australia and they (Germany) won a set with zero \u2013 that was amazing defence,\u201d said the 26-year-old to ihf.info. \u201cWe tried to do it against China in our quarter-finals too, but, sadly, we conceded five points.\u201d<\/p>\n
In that last eight match, Drachsler (no.15), alongside goalkeeper Nele Kurzke and fellow defenders Lucie-Marie Kretschmar and Kirsten Walter, prevented the Asian side from scoring in the second set until the sixth minute and that dominant performance meant Germany stayed on course to defend their 2022 title and are now one step away from a guaranteed medal.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI can’t believe it,\u201d says Drachsler about being in China playing for a possible medal. \u201cI always try to realise it, but I think I will only realise it when I’m at home and everything is calm. It’s just a great time out here to see the other teams. It’s just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Standing at 1,93m tall, Drachsler is an imposing defensive barrier for any attacking player, and, combined with the 1,80m Kretschmar, their brick wall is a sight to behold when in full defensive mode \u2013 but a definite giveaway about which sport she is representing at Chengdu<\/a> – and this obstacle to overcome for any offence is backed up by the statistics: 10 recorded blocks in their four games so far, topping the women\u2019s competition, ahead of Argentina.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely crazy. I think that’s the best feeling. I love it,\u201d says Drachsler about the emotions felt when blocking. \u201cI think, with Lucie too, you can see it in her face after she blocks, she’s always in the mode.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, we do special block training and there we try to, sometimes, block upwards, sometimes block more in line. That’s basically the thing; it\u2019s really good for us to play against the best in the world, so we have to do the defence.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s part of the game,\u201d she adds about the mental battle with attacking players. \u201cIf you block them two times, maybe the next time they will do anything else, so you have to do also something else.\u201d<\/p>\n And with a time difference seeing games throw-off in China in the morning in Germany, Drachsler still feels the love from the fans back home, a welcome boost after each game played.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had one game at 5:40am German time and they woke up and slept again after the match,\u201d she explained. \u201cThey always try to support us and that’s great. If you put on your phone after a game and read their messages, like \u2018you did a great job\u2019, \u2018wow\u2019, \u2018congrats\u2019, it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n