Finally another European Handball Championship – and this time even in our own country: the tournament starts on Wednesday. Will the DHB team succeed in the next winter fairy tale 17 years after the World Cup title in Cologne? Here are answers to the most important questions.
The fans’ anticipation is great: the men’s handball European Championship will be held in Germany for the first time. From January 10th to 28th, 24 teams will play in 65 games for the European crown. Two highlights await the DHB selection in the preliminary round: first the opening game in front of a world record crowd, then the amazing duel with a fellow favorite. The medal candidates have been identified, the German squad is in place: this is how the home European Championships work.
Where do the European Handball Championship games take place?
There are six venues in Germany: Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Mannheim and Munich. The DHB team in Group A plays its preliminary round games in Düsseldorf and Berlin. Groups B and E around Spain and Sweden play in Mannheim. Groups C and F with top favorites Denmark have to play in Munich. Norway is playing in Group D in the capital for a place in the main round. Should Germany qualify for the second phase of the tournament, it will continue in Cologne, where the final round will also take place. The announced rail strike is causing problems. The railway is an official European Championship partner. “We have a plan B in our pocket,” reported sports director Axel Kromer.
Who will the German team face in the preliminary round?
National coach Alfred Gislason’s team found themselves in a tricky but solvable group. The most important game in the fight for the main round is the opening duel with Switzerland on Wednesday (8.45 p.m./ZDF) in the Düsseldorf football arena in front of a world record crowd of 53,000 fans. “It’s really tingling,” said backcourt player Julian Köster. On January 14th there is a mandatory task against North Macedonia in Berlin before the handball clash with France takes place two days later. The best two teams in each of the six groups of four qualify for the main round.
What shape is the German team in?
With two test match victories against Portugal, the DHB team has gained self-confidence for the home European Championship. Above all, the 35:31 on Saturday gives hope for a successful tournament. “We have taken two steps forward,” said Gislason after a solid goalkeeping and defensive performance. The problem remains the lack of consistency over 60 minutes. In the duels with the southern Europeans, the German squad suffered a slack in the second half.
Who is part of the DHB selection squad?
The German squad has shrunk to 17 players following the injuries to Marian Michalczik and Patrick Groetzki. The national coach is tackling the medal mission with four European champions from 2016, four U21 world champions and one newcomer. “We have a very, very good team that can go far – even if the experience isn’t quite there like in other nations,” said Gislason.
In addition to goalkeeper Andreas Wolff (32), the veterans include backcourt player Kai Häfner (34) and Christoph Steinert (33). Of the U21 world champions, goalkeeper David Späth (21), backcourt players Renars Uscins (21) and Nils Lichtlein (21) and pivot Justus Fischer (20) made it into the squad. Martin Hanne (22) makes his debut in the national team.
Where can you watch the European Handball Championship games?
The Handball European Championship can only be seen in its entirety at Dyn. According to its own information, the paid internet broadcaster will show all 65 games of the tournament, of which at least 31 games will be exclusive. The games of the German national handball team run at no additional cost in the first and second divisions, which had secured the rights for the home European championship several years ago. ARD and ZDF also show other games without the participation of the DHB team.
Who are the favorites?
World champion Denmark is the top favorite for the European Championship title. Defending champions Sweden, European Championship runners-up Spain and, above all, World Cup runners-up France are also to be expected. The DHB selection is aiming for a place in the semi-finals and is hoping for an effect like at the home World Cup in 2007, when the audience carried them to the World Cup title.
Is Germany already qualified for the Olympics?
No. The DHB team is still fighting for its ticket to the 2024 Summer Games in France. As European champions, the German team would qualify directly for the Olympics. This was achieved in 2004 and 2016. If the title doesn’t work out, the team has already secured participation in one of the three Olympic qualifying tournaments in the spring thanks to fifth place at the World Cup last year. Hosts France, world champions Denmark, Japan and Argentina can already plan for the highlight on the Seine.
Read at stern+: German handball has been a bit lackluster recently – the last title was eight years ago. After the clear win against Portugal, that should now change at the home European Championship. Important source of hope: Juri Knorr, 23 years old, young talent with a penchant for quarreling.
Source: Stern
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