live blog
Germany’s handball players will meet Croatia in the European Championship semi-finals. All news about the game in the live blog.
01/30/2026 • 06:00 am
7:38 p.m
Gislason is again hoping for a few technical errors
National coach Alfred Gislason is hoping for a similarly disciplined and inspired offensive performance against the Croatians as against France: “I hope we play like we did yesterday [gegen Frankreich]with the same defense, the same pressure in attack. If we manage to make just three technical errors again, we have a chance. That was a big difference compared to our game against Denmark.”
6:46 p.m
Six Germans nominated for All-Star team
Six German handball players can hope for a place in the European Championship all-star team. The sextet around goalkeeper Andreas Wolff and playmaker Juri Knorr is among the nominees who can be voted on in the tournament app until Saturday evening. The All-Star team will be announced on Sunday. In addition to Wolff and Knorr, who made it into the team of the tournament at the last European Championship in 2024, Renars Uscins (right back), Lukas Zerbe (right wing), Johannes Golla (circle) and Tom Kiesler (defensive player) are also on the shortlist for the prestigious election. The nominations were made by a panel of experts. In addition to the seven positions, the best defender and the best young player up to and including the age of 21 will also be chosen.
6:16 p.m
More memorable Sigurdsson freakout
Things were seething in Dagur Sigurdssons. Croatia’s national coach gave a tough monologue at the media meeting before the semi-finals and sharply criticized the EHF. His Croatians had significantly less rest time between their last two main round games, which, unlike Germany and Denmark, they had to play on consecutive days without a regeneration day. To do this, just like Iceland, which is playing against Denmark in the other semi-final, they had to travel from Malmö in Sweden to Herning in Denmark on the only “rest day”, unlike Germany or the Danes. In addition, the hotel in which the Croatians were staying was far from the training hall. Among other things, he called the EHF a “fast food company”.
5:49 p.m
Kiesler is doing better – but his commitment is questionable
Germany’s handball players may also have to do without their defensive edge Tom Kiesler in the European Championship semi-final against runner-up Croatia. “He feels better”said national team manager Benjamin Chatton on Thursday at the German team headquarters in Silkeborg. However, Kiesler has a gastrointestinal infection “Very shaken. We have to wait for the next 24 hours.” Kiesler missed the decisive main round game against defending champions France (38:34) and stayed in the hotel. “When we left the hotel, he was puking every quarter of an hour,” National coach Alfred Gislason reported after the game. “Of course I hope that we can manage that he can play.”
