For the DHB women, the hockey European Championship in Mönchengladbach is the first after a personnel upheaval. The German men dream of the title at the farewell tournament of their captain.
When the German hockey players start their home European Championship against France on Saturday, almost everything is different than at tournaments in past years. Out of 16 field players, only seven in the current European Championship squad played the Olympic Games in Paris last year. Seven players give their EM debut in the Hocypark.
After the summer games, Nike Lorenz, Anne Schröder, Charlotte Stapenhorst, Cécile Pieper, Viktoria Huse and Kira Horn, had ended six top performers.
“This upheaval is of course challenging. Long -term components of the team are now missing with which numerous tournaments have been contested. On the other hand, this also creates new roles”says Selin Oruz, who is already playing her sixth European Championship tournament. The doctor had paused work -related after the Olympic Games and had returned to the newly formed team due to a hand injury later than planned.
Janneke Schopman – suddenly National coach
But not only players went: at the end of last year, national coach Valentin Altenburg surprisingly announced his resignation. “A completely new team of coaches and staff, of course, designs a new team of the team even more complex for those who are there longer”says Oruz, but who, despite all the challenges, says “Very positive” opposite.
Born in Dutch, Janneke Schopman, has been the new national coach for nine months. When she took over the post of Altenburg at short notice, she was employed in the DHB for almost a month as the technical manager of the youth. She had previously trained the Indian national team and had failed in Germany in the Olympic qualification.
For the German national hockey team of women who won bronze at the last home European Championships 2023, the focus is on development at this tournament. The focus is on the first group game against France. “We are ready for everyone who comes there”says national coach Schopman, who had meticulously worked on content until shortly before the tournament with the team at a course. In the group, Germany plays against top favorite and Olympic champion Netherlands and against Ireland.
“We are here to win every game. I would not say: We can’t, we are too young. I don’t say: We have to win”says Schopman: “But we can and must see how consistently we can implement it in the tournament.”
Germany’s hockey men are among the title favorites
There was also a change among German men, albeit significantly smaller. “I feel great curiosity and anticipation, many people will get into new positions and roles”says men’s coach André Henning: “We are currently talking a lot of conversations with each other and with the boys. They discuss what they need as a player, but also as a personality.”
However, the DHB men with a dozen world champions from 2023 in the team and as a silver medalist from Paris are the title. Henning has to forego the resigned service providers Niklas Wellen, Mathias Müller and Marco Miltkau, as well as a striking scorer Christopher Rühr, who dispenses with the tournament because of his medical studies.
Mats Grambusch – the captain is leaving
Another farewell is approaching: Captain Mats Grambusch will last for the national team at a tournament. After leaving his future in the national team after the Olympic Games, the 32-year-old is now celebrating his last appearance in his hometown.
The gold medal would be a proper farewell and a successful start for the four European Championship debutants Raphael Hartkopf, Erik Kleinlein, Paul Kaufmann and Michel Struthoff.
Henning does not want to pay particular attention to any of the youngsters: “We are not a team that has to rely on two or three people. It has always been a German strength that all players are able to make the difference in the game.” Rather, it will be important “How mentally strong we as a team are under pressure.”
National coach Henning: “Just a logic: win a tournament”
It didn’t work at the last home European Championship: German men went away empty-handed with fourth place. As with women, favorite is the Netherlands, which also fetched Olympic gold among men. For Henning’s players, it is first against outsiders France tonight, as well as women. Vice-European champion England is waiting in the second group game, most recently Poland.
The last European Championship title was twelve years ago for both German teams, and the DHB dual gold in Belgium in 2013. While the target advertisement remains vague among the German players, it is clear to Henning and his DHB men: “We always only have one logic: win a tournament.”