Handball European Championships
This is how Germany prevents a quick exit
01/18/2026 – 9:46 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
The German national handball team goes into the preliminary round final against Spain with maximum pressure. Despite the defeat against Serbia, progress is still possible.
Germany’s handball players are facing elimination in the preliminary round for the first time at the European Championship finals. The team of national coach Alfreð Gíslason has put itself in a difficult position due to the 27:30 defeat against Serbia, which is not hopeless before the group final against Spain on Monday (8:30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online).
The Iberians lead the table after two games with 4:0 points, followed by Serbia and Germany (both 2:2). Austria is last with 0:4 points. The first two teams advance.
Germany reaches the main round if…
… if Serbia wins against Austria, the DHB selection will win the duel with Spain with a difference of at least three goals. Then the Olympic silver medalist would definitely be ahead of Spain in a three-way comparison of the rivals with the same points. If they were to win with a five-goal lead, Germany would definitely be group winners. In both cases, however, 0:2 points from the lost game against Serbia would be taken into the main round.
… the DHB selection wins against Spain and Serbia plays a maximum draw against Austria. In this case, if the German team were tied on points with the Iberians, they would reach the second phase of the tournament as group winners with 2-0 points because of the direct comparison won.
… the DHB selection draws against Spain and Serbia loses against Austria. Then Germany would be second in the group and start the main round with 1:1 points.
… the DHB selection loses against Spain and Austria wins against Serbia by three goals, but the result is no higher than 29:26. In this case, Germany, Austria and Serbia would be tied on points and would also have the same goal difference. The DHB selection would have scored the most goals in a three-way comparison and would advance as second in the group with 0:2 points.
