Germany

Germany have qualified for the Women’s EHF EURO for the 15th time – and again, it is their dream to make it to the semi-finals, a stage they last reached in 2008.

New coach Markus Gaugisch, who is also coaching German champions and EHF European League winners SG BBM Bietigheim, is entering his first major tournament, counting on a rather young but still experienced squad which will face Poland, Montenegro and Spain in the preliminary round.

Before Germany’s last EHF EURO Qualifier against Greece in April 2022, Gaugisch replaced Dutch coach Henk Groener at the helm of the German national team. In terms of tactics, Gaugisch builds on the active defence system but has started to change the way of attacking: more speed, more easy and straight attacks – like the playing system that helped Bietigheim become the internationally successful team they currently are.

A Bietigheim block is also part of the national team, which makes it easier to adapt. Gaugisch’s mission is to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games and to win a medal at the 2025 World Championship, co-hosted by Germany and Netherlands. After this season, he will only focus on the national team.

Two key players, both with EHF Champions League teams, will miss the EHF EURO 2022: FTC right back Alicia Stolle has broken her hand – in a match against Bietigheim, and Team Esbjerg goalkeeper Dinah Eckerle is pregnant. While the goalkeeper position is strong with Katharina Filter (København) and Isabell Roch (Valcea), the only internationally experienced right back is Julia Maidhof (Bietigheim).

In general, the two team captains – Dortmund centre back Alina Grijseels and FTC left back Emily Bölk – are the leaders of the pack, but several other players can have their impact on the EHF EURO as well, like line player Meike Schmelzer (Braila) or defender Xenia Smits (Bietigheim), the MVP of the EHF Finals 2022.

Read more about the German team HERE.