Germany's handball national team faces a historic EM disaster after losing 27:30 to Serbia in the group stage. The match against Spain on Monday is the endgame for coach Alfred Gislason and the team. Playmaker Juri Knorr expressed frustration over limited playing time.
In Herning, Denmark, Germany's handballers are fighting for advancement at the 2026 EM. After the opening win against Austria (30:27 on January 15), a bitter 27:30 defeat to Serbia followed on January 17. The team led 17:13 at halftime but collapsed in the second half, scoring only 10 goals.
Coach Alfred Gislason is under pressure: His contract expires after the 2027 home World Cup, and a group stage exit would be a disaster. Gislason admitted mistakes, including pressing the buzzer at 57:16, invalidating a goal by Juri Knorr. "My timeout error cost at least one point," he said. He hopes to repeat the 2024 Olympic miracles.
Tensions are brewing in the team. Knorr, who shone in the first half, got little time in the second: "I'm ultra-frustrated sitting on the bench unable to help." He criticized the rotation and demanded more trust. Former world champion Michael Kraus judged: "He has coached himself into a mess."
Against Spain, Germany needs a win by at least three goals, depending on the Serbia-Austria match, to advance in the three-way tie. DHB President Andreas Michelmann emphasized: "We have full trust in the coach – regarding the next game." The EM runs from January 15 to February 1 in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
