In the absence of some spared top performers, German handball fans against Switzerland (07.05.25) can look forward to several new faces. On the side of Andi Wolff and Co., three debutants should help the DHB team to win the group.
Due to the victory against Austria, Germany is already one of the top four thirds of the eight qualification groups and can therefore plan for the European Championship finals 2026. Nevertheless, there is no time for experiments, because first place, according to national coach Alfred Gislason, is “important” with a view to the seed list for the draw, which takes place on May 15th in HERNING.
However, the Icelander already has time for viewing potential national players. Also because important players such as Lukas Mertens or Jannik Kohlbacher should get a break in the full handball calendar. Three players could celebrate their debut in the A team against Switzerland (from 6.50 p.m. in the livestream and in the ticker on Sportschau.de), next to it are with Tim Freihöfer (Füchse Berlin), Tim Nothdurft (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) and Miro Schluroff (VfL Gummersbach) three still quite “fresh” faces.
As Second division player in the National team
The three youngsters all have one thing in common, they look back on an extremely successful youth and junior time at the German Handball Association. In the meantime, seven U21 world champions from 2023 are in the team of the national coach. A U19 European champion (2021) is added with the young circular runner Aron Seesing. The nomination was not a big surprise, because the BHC professional was already in the extended 35 cadres for the 2025 and Olympics 2024-as a second division player.
Partylate mood after the ascent with Elias Scholtes (right) and Aron Seesing (left)
Nevertheless, the 22-year-old from the Bergisches HC would have to arrive with a lot of self-confidence and, above all, a lot of feelings of happiness. At the end of April, the district runner and his team celebrated the promotion to the Bundesliga and the new international had a significant share in that. With 107 goals and a hit rate of over 75 percent, the right -hander is the second best circle runner of the league and third best scorer of his team. These statistics also ultimately convinced the national coach of nomination.
Matthes Langhoff cheers after the victory against Aalborg
Matthes Langhoff recommended himself for the A-national team over an also strong season. The back area player is not only in first place in the Bundesliga with the Füchsen Berlin, but also qualified for the Final Four in the Champions League. The 23-year-old “only” scored once against the Danish top team Aalborg Håndbold, but had a large part in success, especially on the defensive.
Defensive qualities DHB team could help from Langhoff
In the important half position, the native Neu-Brandenburg covers the world after week after week after the world. In the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the defense specialist Mads Hoxer Hangaard kept in chess, in the Bundesliga top game he made life difficult for national teams Renārs Uščins. In the Gislason team, he could primarily replace the “pure” attack players, such as Nils Lichtlein or Franz Semper, in defense and give the established defensive forces more breaks.
Mathis Häseler (right) in a duel with national team colleague Andi Wolff
No position in the team has been as much movement in recent years as on the outside. Musche, Mertens, Groetzki, Dahmke, to give just a few names of the last major events. In the meantime, Timo Kastening has established themselves in the right wing position according to a small shape low, and now Mathis Häseler complements the experienced duo.
A dream comes true for Häseler
The left-hander also belongs to the ranks of the U21 world champions from 2023 and plays in the Oberbergische alongside international Julian Köster. The 22-year-old is in ninth place with VfL Gummersbach after 27 match days and has lost sight of the international ranks in the last five games in the last five games. Nevertheless, the right wing was able to draw the national coach with his achievements.
“I am very happy that I get the chance to be there. It will be a dream for me”explained the handball player born in Lünen. From the debutants, the exception of the Gummersbacher to a fixed squad square are certainly the lowest with regard to the EM 2026. But the duo Kastening/Zerbe is easy to experience in order to be able to do without this strength.
Despite the personnel rotation, nobody at the DHB awaits a sure -fire success against the most recently strongly strengthened Swiss around national coach Andy Schmid, although Germany was able to win the first leg in November 35:26.
The conclusion of the European Championship qualification for the DHB team is the game on Sunday against Turkey in Stuttgart (11.05.25, live stream from 5.50 p.m. on sporschau.de).