For the European Championship opening game
Gíslason leaves European champions out of the squad
Updated on January 15, 2026 – 9:03 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
18 professionals are part of the German European Championship squad, but only 16 are allowed to be in the matchday squad. After an actor was injured, a candidate for a strike was open. Now it is clear who it will affect.
The German national handball team traveled to Denmark for the European Championships on Tuesday with 18 players. The opening game against Austria is scheduled for Thursday (8.30 p.m., live on ARD and Dyn).
It was clear beforehand: According to the regulations, only 16 players can be used per game. After Berlin’s Nils Lichtlein was injured (bruise in his foot) and was out of the question for the first game, it was unclear until the end which other player national coach Alfred Gíslason would miss. It is now clear that the choice fell on an experienced player. Rune Dahmke is not one of the 16 nominated professionals for the first preliminary round game in Herning that evening. The “Bild” reported first.
The 32-year-old left winger had not played for the DHB team in the two tests against Croatia – out of caution at the time. The calf was a little stiff due to the lack of insoles in his sports shoes. The suitcase with the material initially got stuck at the airport in Amsterdam during the EM course.
Shortly before the start of the tournament, the Kieler, who won the 2016 European Championships with the DHB team, was able to give the all-clear: “I can play,” he told “Bild”. Nevertheless, he has to be patient – against Austria, Lukas Mertens starts on the left wing.
It is possible to play in the second game against Serbia on Saturday (8:30 p.m.). National coach Gíslason praised the breadth of his squad at the team headquarters in Silkeborg: “We are broader. In attack, but especially in defense.” Breaks are now easier for regular employees like Johannes Golla or Julian Köster: “We can spread the burden across many shoulders.”