Sigurdsson brings in five new players for Spain clashes

Germany’s head coach Dagur Sigurdsson has nominated his squad for the EHF EURO 2016 qualifiers against Spain on 29 April and 3 May, making small adjustments compared to the squad that took to the court at the World Championship 2015 in Qatar.

13 players, who were part of World Championship squad, plus two debutants and three players from the German team that won the Men's 20 EHF EURO 2014 last year will form Sigurdsson’s squad for the matches against Spain and the test match against Switzerland on 26 April.

"We stay on the same track as before, rejuvenation is still our motto," Sigurdsson said in Mannheim, where the Germans will play the first leg of the double-header against the 2013 world champions on 29 April.

Just like their Spanish opponents the German national team won their first two qualification matches against Austria and Finland.

"To qualify for the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland would be another significant step for this team," Sigurdsson said.

Germany missed the qualification for the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark and also for the World Championship 2015, but was eventually eligible to play courtesy of a wild card from the International Handball Federation.

"We have to continue where we left in Doha," said Sigurdsson. By finishing seventh, the Germans secured their berth at the qualification tournament for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Five players are not part of the German national team anymore - the only remaining 2007 World Champions in the current squad is goalkeeper Carsten Lichtlein.

Two newcomers, however, claimed a place in the squad: Ole Rahmel and Niclas Pieczkowski, both are 25 years old.

"They have shown their improvement in the Bundesliga and deserve to be part of the squad," Sigurdsson said.

Together with Paul Drux, who was already part of the team in Qatar, two more Men's 20 EHF EURO 2014 champions have been nominated: Fabian Wiede, who is coached by Sigurdsson at his club Füchse Berlin, and Simon Ernst (VfL Gummersbach).

"To play a World Championship would have been too early for them, but they have grown in their clubs and thus are part of our team now," Sigurdsson explained.

10,000 tickets have been sold

Furthermore 2,10 metres tall Fynn Lemke (TBV Lemgo) is back on track after a fracture of the hand stopped him from being part of the World Championship.

"Compared to our other options on the left back position, Fynn is much taller and is a real shooter. So we have more alternatives which means that it hopefully gets harder for our opponents to stop us," said the head coach.

The integration of the young players comes with new tasks for 2007 world champion and current team manager Oliver Roggisch: "Of course, the young players, who might not dare to contact Dagur personally, can come to me to talk. But in general it is very easy to be integrated in this team. I do not expect any problems," he said.

Roggisch, who is responsible for all organisational matters around the team, will have a home match in the first leg against Spain, as it is played in Mannheim: "But just like the Rhein-Neckar Löwen players I will not sleep at home, but in the hotel," he said.

And Mannheim is ready for the clash against Spain: Two weeks prior to the match already 10,000 tickets have been sold, the SAP Arena is expected to be sold out with 13,500 fans on 29 April-

But despite the huge support from the stands, Sigurdsson expects a tough clash: "For more than ten years Spain have been one of the top teams in the world.

"But after our great results in Doha we are confident enough to say that we hope for a close match against Spain on home court. To play in Leon three days later (2 May) will be something different."

The German squad for the EHF EURO 2016 Qualification matches against Spain

Goalkeeper: Carsten Lichtlein (VfL Gummersbach), Silvio Heinevetter (Füchse Berlin), Andreas Wolff (HSG Wetzlar)

Left wing: Uwe Gensheimer (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Matthias Musche (SC Magdeburg)

Left back: Paul Drux (Füchse Berlin), Finn Lemke (TBV Lemgo), Stefan Kneer (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)

Centre back: Martin Strobel (HBW Balingen-Weilstetten), Simon Ernst (VfL Gummersbach), Niclas Pieczkowski (TuS N-Lübbecke)

Right back: Steffen Weinhold (THW Kiel), Fabian Wiede (Füchse Berlin)

Right wing: Patrick Groetzki (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Ole Rahmel (HC Erlangen)

Line player: Patrick Wiencek (THW Kiel), Hendrik Pekeler (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Erik Schmidt (TSG Ludwigshafen-Friesenheim)