Germany

For the first time in history, Germany are the hosts of a Men’s EHF EURO – and therefore have a special anticipation, but also pressure at their 15th participation at the final tournament. Since 2016 – when they were EHF EURO champions and Olympic Games bronze medallists - Germany have not won any medals at major tournaments. Now, it is the big hope and dream of the rejuvenated team to make it at least to the semi-finals on home soil.

Some experienced players such as Uwe Gensheimer and Hendrik Pekeler have retired from the national team, while experienced players like Paul Drux or Fabian Wiede are ruled out of EHF EURO 2024 with injuries. But a new generation of stars have arrived in the German team: after Julian Köster and Juri Knorr (both 23 years old) made an impact at previous major tournaments, five players of the provisional squad are even younger – and became U21 world champions last summer in Germany. Goalkeeper David Späth, World Championship MVP Nils Lichtlein and All-star Team line player Justus Fischer are all part of the EHF EURO 2024 squad.

Knorr, goalkeeper Andreas Wolff and line player Johannes Golla are supposed to be the leading figures, all three were part of the All-star Teams at either EHF EURO 2022 or the 2023 World Championship. Having been nominated on his 24th birthday in November 2021, Golla is the youngest ever team captain of the German team. Having qualified automatically as EHF EURO 2024 hosts, Germany played in the EHF EURO Cup – and lost five of six matches in total against Denmark, Sweden and Spain. Despite those results, head coach Alfred Gislason is confident of his team playing a strong role in the tournament, boosted by the fans in the sold-out arenas.

In 2004, Germany became the first nation to win the full set of silverware at Men’s EHF EURO events, winning bronze in 1998, silver in 2002 and gold in 2004 - but then it was not until their victorious event in Poland in 2016 to win a medal (gold) again.