Germany’s handball team secured a spot in the 2026 European Championship with a 31:26 victory over Austria in Hanover. Key players included substitute goalkeeper David Späth and top scorers Marko Grgic and Julian Köster. Coach Alfred Gislason praised the team’s performance, which marked a significant improvement from their previous draw against Austria. Germany now leads their group and will face Switzerland and Turkey in their final qualification matches. Paul Drux announced his retirement after the match.
Germany Secures European Championship Spot with Victory Over Austria
In a decisive match held in Hanover, Germany’s handball team clinched their place in the 2026 European Championship, set to take place in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway from January 15 to February 1. The team achieved a 31:26 victory against Austria, with standout performances from substitute goalkeeper David Späth and top scorers Marko Grgic, who netted 7 goals, and Julian Köster, who contributed 6 goals.
Strong Performance and Strategic Play
Head coach Alfred Gislason expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I am very pleased with our game; we defended and attacked exceptionally well.” This victory places Germany among the top four third-placed teams from the eight qualification groups, allowing them to plan for the final tournament. Currently, Germany leads their group with a three-point advantage over Austria, while Switzerland could potentially close the gap with a win against Turkey.
Despite missing key players like Renars Uscins, Jannik Kohlbacher, and Justus Fischer, Gislason opted to rest playmaker Juri Knorr, who has been recovering from illness. The match was a significant improvement for Germany, who had previously drawn 26:26 in their first leg against Austria after squandering a four-goal lead.
The team struggled initially, falling behind by two goals before taking their first lead in the 14th minute thanks to Nils Lichtlein’s goal. However, they quickly found their rhythm, particularly in defense, where they managed to contain Austria’s powerful pivot, Tobias Wagner, much more effectively than in the first leg.
Germany capitalized on Austria’s errors after the break, scoring four goals into an empty net and extending their lead to 19:14 and then 21:15. Substituted goalkeeper David Späth made a remarkable impact, saving four out of the first five shots he faced, achieving an impressive save percentage of 40% by the end of the match.
As the clock wound down, Germany’s lead swelled to eight goals at 26:18, but a few misplaced balls allowed Austria to narrow the gap slightly. Despite this, Gislason’s team maintained control, securing the victory and allowing for some playing time for the bench players.
After the match, the DHB bid farewell to Paul Drux, a long-time national player who will retire due to recurring knee injuries. Over a decade with the national team, Drux accumulated 214 goals in 127 matches, highlighting the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as a particularly emotional high point in his career.
Looking ahead, Germany will face Switzerland on May 7 and Turkey on May 11 in their final two European Championship qualification matches, aiming to secure group victory for a more advantageous seed in the upcoming tournament draw.