National handball coach Alfred Gislason is relying on fresh talent at the European Championships, with four players in the squad facing their first major tournament.
Three of these debutants play in the Bundesliga for VfL Gummersbach: Tom Kiesler (24), Miro Schluroff (25, both left backfield), and Mathis Häseler (23, right winger). The latter was preferred over the experienced Timo Kastening (30, MT Melsungen). The German Handball Association (DHB) presented the squad on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) in Dortmund.
Matthes Langhoff (23, left back) from Füchse Berlin is also facing his first European Championship. In the strong competition for this position, Sebastian Heymann (27, Rhein-Neckar Löwen) was left behind.
Matthes Langhoff from Füchse Berlin
Gislason on being spoiled for choice
The new ones are “Versatile guys who can have a great future with us”said Gislason to the sports show. “You can now show whether I made the right choice.”
Given the increased selection of good players, it was very difficult to put the squad together. “I was incredibly sorry to call the players yesterday who had legitimate hopes of being there”said Gislason. He had a choice “very accurate” looked at the defense. “We have a good mix of experienced and inexperienced players.”
Those too Achievers are only in their mid-20s
The four debutants belong to the same generation as the three hopefuls in the squad: Juri Knorr (25, Aalborg Handbold), Julian Köster (25, VfL Gummersbach), Renars Uscins (23, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf).
Julian Köster from VfL Gummersbach
Gislason also relies on three players who won European Championship gold in Poland ten years ago. Andreas Wolff forms the goalkeeping duo with David Späth, Rune Dahmke is an option at left wing alongside Lukas Mertens and Jannick Kohlbacher is one of three pivots.
DHB did not reach Justus Fischer
Another is Justus Fischer from SG Flensburg-Handewitt. However, the currently injured 22-year-old apparently didn’t know anything about his nomination on Wednesday because the DHB hadn’t reached him.
“Justus, if you see this: Call back, we have important information for you,” said sports director Ingo Meckes with a smile at the press conference.
Heaviness Preliminary group for Germany
The European Handball Championship will take place from January 15th to February 1st, 2026 in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Germany is playing its preliminary round games in Herning, Denmark and has tough opponents in Group A in Spain, Austria and Serbia.
In the main round there will be duels with the top favorite Denmark, the first challenger France and the Portuguese and Norwegians, who are also highly rated. Like these two nations, Germany is also part of the extended circle of favorites.
The German European Championship squad:
Goal: David Späth (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Andreas Wolff (THW Kiel)
Left wing: Rune Dahmke (THW Kiel), Lukas Mertens (SC Magdeburg)
Back area left: Marko Grgic (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Tom Kiesler (VfL Gummersbach), Matthes Langhoff (Füchse Berlin), Miro Schluroff (VfL Gummersbach)
Back center: Juri Knorr (Aalborg Handbold), Julian Köster (VfL Gummersbach), Nils Lichtlein (Füchse Berlin)
Back area right: Franz Semper (SC DHfK Leipzig), Renars Uscins (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf)
Right wing: Mathis Häseler (VfL Gummersbach), Lukas Zerbe (THW Kiel)
Circle: Justus Fischer (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Johannes Golla (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Jannik Kohlbacher (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)