With a boy team The German national team is going into the upcoming home European Championship. Those appointed by national coach Alfred Gislason Youngsters could play an important role in the tournament.
When Gislason announced his 19-man squad for the European Championships on December 21st, the headlines belonged primarily to a young quartet: Gislason named four U21 world champions to his European Championship team.teamthey said Headlines and were Nils Lichtlein (21 years old), David Späth (21), Renars Uscins (21) and Justus Fischer (20), who brought the young talent crown to Germany in June.
Now these four should help Germany fulfill its dream of a medal at the tournament in its own country. There is also another one newcomer: Martin Hanne (22) from TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, who will play his first international matches in January in the last two tests before the European Championship against Portugal.
U21 world champion Renars Uscins, goalkeeper David Späth, Nils Lichtlein and Mathis Häseler (from left)
However, age did not play a role in the composition of the squad. “We brought in the players because they performed well at their clubs. These guys are really good”said the national coach at a media talk on Friday (December 29, 2023). Gislason said he couldn’t find any players five years older who were available.
Heiner Brand had four 23-year-olds with him
In the past, young handball players have often been part of the German team squad at world and European championships. However, there have never been a handful of very young players without experience in major tournaments.
For example, Jannik Kohlbacher (there again this time) was Benjamin at the age of 21 team, which won the European Championship with Germany in 2016 under Dagur Sigurdsson. Heiner Brand had four 23-year-olds with him at the 2007 Winter Fairy Tale: Dominik Klein, the youngest at the time, as well as Holger Glandorf, Michael Haaß and Michael Kraus.
Average age at 26.5 years
On average, however, the Germans were teams older in previous major title wins. The average age of Gislasons at this European Championship is 26.5 years team. In 2016, when winning the European Championship title, the average was 27.3 years, in 2007, when winning the World Cup in your own country, it was 27.1 years.
It must be taken into account that Gislason will have to reduce his squad to 16 players before the start of the tournament. This reduction in the squad could also affect one or the other newcomer meet, but can be nominated later during the tournament.
In addition, the fact that Gislason relies on the “youth” is of course also due to the fact that experienced players such as Berlin’s Fabian Wiede or Paul Drux are missing due to injuries or have turned down the game, such as Kiel’s Hendrik Pekeler. Nevertheless, the boys could team leave their mark.
Gislason’s young quintet in a short portrait
David Späth (goalkeeper, Rhein-Neckar Löwen): The 21-year-old is the discovery in the German goal in 2023. At the European Championships, Späth will form the goalkeeping duo together with veteran Andreas Wolff. The native of the Palatinate maneuvered himself into the limelight in April when he secured victory for the Rhein-Neckar Löwen in the final of the DHB Cup against SC Magdeburg with his seven-meter saves. Späth also played a major role in winning the U21 World Cup title.
For the Lions, the 1.97 meter man replaced Joel Birlehm between the posts and now forms a team with the Swede Mikael Appelgren. With a catch rate of more than 30 percent, he is one of the top ten in the handball Bundesliga this season. David Späth made his national team debut in the international match against Egypt at the beginning of November.
Nils Lichtlein (centre backcourt, Füchse Berlin): The native of Regensburg was one of the Shooting stars when winning the U21 title in the summer. The first nomination for the A-team This came as a surprise to him, but was understandable.
His performances at Füchse Berlin in the Bundesliga, who are playing for the championship this season, were too strong. Jacob Holm left the club in his position in the summer, Fabian Wiede is still out with a serious foot injury. Lichtlein, nephew of former national goalkeeper Carsten Lichtlein, filled the gap brilliantly and is now crucially involved in the Füchse’s build-up play.
After Wiede and Paul Drux, Lichtlein is the third Berlin player to make it into the senior national team.
Renars Uscins (right backcourt, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf): The native Latvian, son of the former handball professional and current coach Armands Uscins, is one of the great backcourt talents in German handball. The left-hander was trained in the SC Magdeburg youth academy. In the 2020/21 season he made his first Bundesliga appearances at Bergischer HC with second-game rights.
For the 2022/23 season he moved permanently to TSV Hannover-Burgdorf. With 56 goals in 17 Bundesliga games, Uscins is one of his team’s top scorers. In April he made his senior national team debut against Sweden under Gislason. In June Uscins won the Junior World Championships. “Renars is an important personality in this team.”said U21 national coach Martin Heuberger.
Martin Hanne in the TSV Hannover-Burgdorf jersey
Martin Hanne (left backcourt, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf): With the nomination of Hannes, Alfred Gislason caused the biggest bang. “He is a young player who has developed very well in Burgdorf. I have seen all of his games over the last two years.”the national coach explained his choice.
The 22-year-old Peiner native is playing a strong season for the Hanoverians after not playing as hoped the previous year due to a serious back injury. “Martin has learned a bit more patience, being able to read the defense properly and knowing when to attack”says his home trainer and former national coach Christian Prokop. The great strength of the backcourt left is his great throwing variability.
Justus Fischer in action for TSV Hannover-Burgdorf
Justus Fischer (district, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf): Like Martin Hanne and Renars Uscins, Fischer is also one of the biggest hopes for the future at TSV Hannover-Burgdorf and also the senior national team. As the only 2003 vintage, the Hanoverian homegrown is the youngest player in Gislasons team – and the one with the largest feet, namely shoe size 51 according to the “Bild” newspaper.
Even before the 2023 World Cup, Gislason called him up to the extended squad of the German senior national team. The pivot didn’t make his debut until April 2023 in the defeat against Sweden. Three days later he scored his first two goals in a win against Spain.
“Justus is an incredible fighter. He shows great commitment in defense and dives for every ball,” says U21 national coach Martin Heuberger about his ex-protégé. “Also, his attitude is impeccable. He gives it his all in every training session, which really impresses me.”