Emily Bölk celebrated her recent triumph with her team but faced an unexpected omission from the DHB’s initial World Cup lineup. Despite her standout performance in the Hungarian cup final, where she led her team to victory, head coach Markus Gaugisch chose to bench the captain, allowing newer talent a chance to shine against France. Bölk’s determination to reclaim her spot in the team remains strong, as she prepares for future opportunities.
Emily Bölk’s Recent Triumph and Surprising Exclusion
After delivering a heartfelt message to the national coach, Emily Bölk truly let her emotions flow. The long-standing captain of the DHB team celebrated exuberantly, kissing the golden trophy multiple times and dancing through the vibrant Hungarian night, a pyrotechnic torch in her grasp, reveling in her latest achievement.
Following the grand celebration in Tatabanya, Bölk enjoyed a rare opportunity to sleep in on Monday morning. However, she would have preferred to accompany her national team, as she was unexpectedly left out of the initial 18 players set to kick off the home World Cup year this week. Bölk, a pivotal figure in the DHB squad and a veteran of her tenth tournament at the European Championship in December, faces a surprising absence from the lineup.
A Chance for New Talent
DHB head coach Markus Gaugisch has opted to temporarily bench the 26-year-old star. Instead of joining the team, Bölk is set to watch the challenging matches against Olympic silver medalists France from home on television. Despite the absence of key players like Sarah Wachter and Annika Lott due to injuries, Gaugisch decided against additional nominations.
“We recognize Emily’s exceptional skills,” Gaugisch stated in a federation announcement. “We had a thorough conversation with her to explain our decision. The upcoming matches against France present a valuable opportunity for other players, who have shown promise in recent months, to step up against a world-class opponent and enhance the competition within the team.”
Bölk showcased her leadership and talent over the weekend, sending a strong message in the intense Hungarian cup final. With her team down 17:22 against Champions League champions Györi ETO KC, she took control, leading Ferencvaros Budapest to their fourth consecutive cup victory after a thrilling penalty shootout.
With her remarkable contributions, Bölk scored a crucial connecting goal that brought the score to 21:23 and assisted in the equalizer with just nine seconds remaining in regular time. When she confidently netted her penalty shot, it was clear that her determination was unstoppable.
Up until now, Bölk has refrained from publicly commenting on her omission. She was appointed captain of the DHB team in 2021 under Gaugisch’s predecessor, Henk Groener, but now finds herself on standby. According to Gaugisch, this decision followed a comprehensive analysis of 2024, which included a seventh-place finish at the European Championship and a quarterfinal exit at the Olympics.
DHB team manager Anja Althaus recently highlighted the importance of each player’s role as they prepare for the significant event this winter. “Every player needs to find her place in the team, show enthusiasm for representing our national team, and take pride in wearing the German colors,” she stated. Bölk is ready to fight for her spot in the World Cup lineup, and that determination is unmistakable.
The Current Squad
The squad for the upcoming matches includes:
- Goalkeepers: Katharina Filter (Brest Bretagne/France), Marie Weiss (TuS Metzingen)
- Field Players: Jenny Behrend (HB Ludwigsburg), Sabrina Tröster (TuS Metzingen), Julia Maidhof (Ramnicu Valcea/Romania), Viola Leuchter (HB Ludwigsburg), Nina Engel (HSG Bensheim/Auerbach Flames), Mareike Thomaier (HB Ludwigsburg), Alina Grijseels (CSM Bucharest/Romania), Xenia Smits (HB Ludwigsburg), Nieke Kühne (HSG Blomberg-Lippe), Aimée von Pereira (Nyköbing Falster Handbold/Denmark), Dana Bleckmann (Borussia Dortmund), Antje Döll (HB Ludwigsburg), Alexia Hauf (HSG Blomberg-Lippe), Lisa Antl (Borussia Dortmund), Marie Steffen (VfL Oldenburg), Isabell Hurst (HSG Bensheim/Auerbach Flames)