Tough Road Ahead for German Handballers in 2026 European Championship Group
Tough Group Encounters for German Handball Players in Upcoming Competition
Get ready for a fierce battle as Germany's handball team aims to clinch a medal in the 2026 European Championship (EM). The preliminary round promises challenging encounters, and things will get even tougher in the main round.
Despite being the silver medal winners of the Paris tournament, Germany finds itself in a tough preliminary round group in Herning, Denmark. The team will go head-to-head with the Olympic bronze medalists Spain, former EM runners-up Serbia, and Austria. The tournament runs from January 15 to February 1, 2026, across Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
National coach Alfred Gislason acknowledges the challenge ahead: "We've been drawn into a strong, very balanced group. Spain has integrated their outstanding talents, Austria brings a seasoned team with Mikola Bilyk and new coach Iker Romero, and Serbia boasts a good team with the Berlin axis and depth."
The preliminary round is no walk in the park, but things could get even tougher in the main round with the likes of world and Olympic champions Denmark, defending champions France, strong Portuguese, and Norwegian teams potentially on the roster.
Germany will play their main round matches in Herning, where the finals will also take place in the Jyske Bank Boxen. Other EM venues include Oslo (preliminary round), Kristianstad (preliminary round), and Malmo (preliminary and main round).
Bob Hanning, manager of Bundesliga club Füchse Berlin, will guide Italy as national coach to the final round. In Kristianstad, Hanning's team will meet Hungary, Iceland, and Poland.
Gislason's team earned a spot in the 17th EM final tournament by winning their qualifying group. In their last European Championship at home, the DHB selection finished fourth. The team's last EM triumph was in 2016 in Poland.
The German team will need to navigate a competitive group stage, shown by their strong competitors such as Spain, Austria, and Serbia. Maintaining consistency and adapting to challenges will be crucial for them to advance. Their previous performance, although promising, suggests that they need to raise their game to overcome stronger opponents. The team's experience from the qualification phase, where they secured victories against tough teams like Austria and Switzerland, should help them in the upcoming challenges.
Sources: ntv.de, tsi/sid
- Handball national team
- Handball EM
- DHB
- Handball
The handball team's journey in the 2026 European Championship won't be a walk in the park, especially with groups containing opponents like Spain, Austria, and Serbia. These teams will need to execute consistent performances and adapt quickly to overcome challenges, just like they did in the qualification phase against Austria and Switzerland.
After their silver medal win in Paris, the team's football-like battles will continue in football-esque arenas like the Jyske Bank Boxen, Oslo, Kristianstad, and Malmo.
