Grambusch bids adieu in grand style as ladies' team falls short of championship title
German Hockey Team Triumphs in European Championship
The German hockey teams have made history this year, with both the men's and women's teams securing valuable medals in the European Championship. The men's team, in particular, ended a twelve-year drought by winning the tournament for the first time since 2010.
The men's team's victory was a hard-fought battle, especially against the Dutch in the prestige duel of the European Championship. The game was tightly contested, with the teams remaining deadlocked at 1:1 after sixty minutes. However, the German team managed to turn the game around in front of an estimated 30,000 spectators, securing the win and the European Championship title.
Jean-Paul Danneberg, the youngest player on the German team, played an outstanding game in goal, helping the team to hold the Dutch at bay. Danneberg expressed his joy and appreciation for the team in an interview, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to play at such a high level.
Martin Schultze, sports director of the German Hockey Federation, is satisfied with André Henning's leadership and approach. Henning, the national coach of the German hockey team, has led the team to the European Championship win, following the World Championship victory in 2023 and the Olympic silver at the Paris 2024 Games. Henning's contract with the German hockey team extends until 2028, and he is satisfied with the team's performance, believing that Olympic gold is still possible.
Mats Grambusch, who had a distinguished career with the German national hockey team, retired in 2025. Grambusch earned 217 caps and scored 112 goals before hanging up his boots. He was a key figure in the team’s successes over more than a decade, being part of the team that won the World Championship in 2023, the European Championship titles in 2013 and 2025, and the Olympic silver at the Paris 2024 Games.
Grambusch's career is especially notable for his loyalty and longevity with the national team, being the only player from the 2013 European Championship squad to remain and then captain the team to victory in the 2025 European Championships in his home city of Mönchengladbach. His farewell at the 2025 European Championship was marked by an emotional and dramatic victory over the Netherlands, where he lifted the European title trophy in front of a packed home crowd, symbolizing the culmination of a highly successful career.
The women's team fought hard in the final, with Lisa Nolte scoring the equalizing goal after the Dutch team had initially led 2:0. However, they ultimately fell short, losing 1:2 and securing the silver medal. The German Press Agency reports that André Henning is doing a fantastic job as the coach, and the team will participate in the European Championship (EM), World Championship (WM), and Olympics in Los Angeles by 2028.
*Sources:* 1. DW.com 2. BBC.com 3. EuroHockey.org 4. Sport1.de 5. FIH.ch
The triumph of the German hockey team in the European Championship has showcased their prowess in other sports, as they've been consistently excelling in various tournaments. In particular, Jeuan-Paul Danneberg, the youngest player on the men's team, demonstrated exceptional skills in goal, contributing significantly to their victory.
