05.08.2016, 09:33
Germany take it one game at a time

FEATURE: Germany have won the Men’s 18 EHF EURO twice before. First in 2008, then in 2012 – and as another four years now come to an end, the team hopes for at least another medal at Croatia 2016

Germany take it one game at a time

Germany won the Men’s 18 EHF EURO in 2008 and 2012, and there is belief in the German camp that the federation’s under 18 players are strong enough to aim for another podium finish at the Men’s 18 EHF EURO in Croatia from 11 to 21 August.

However, coach Jochen Beppler remains humble. “Locking horns with the best European teams is a great challenge for us. Little things and the daily form will decide. I expect the top teams to be very close, hence setting a goal is difficult.

In Germany we have always been successful when we worked step by step. We want to win the opener and the next match and then the next.”

In the past, German teams have left their mark at Men’s 18 EHF EURO events. In 2008 in the Czech Republic, Germany beat Denmark 31:27 in the final with current men’s national team players Steffen Fäth and Hendrik Pekeler in their ranks.

In 2012 in Austria, Germany won the final 30:29 after extra time against Sweden, and Men’s EHF EURO 2016 champions such Jannik Kohlbacher and Simon Ernst as well as Paul Drux, who is part of Germany’s Olympic squad at Rio 2016, were the team’s stars.

Individual development over trophies

However, the goals in Germany have changed over the past few years. The new motto is: “Individual development is more important than trophies in the younger age categories”.

On the other hand Germany beat top nations such as Denmark, Iceland, Russia and Romania in the lead-up to this final tournament, and that has increased the hunger for success.

Germany face Portugal, Poland and Serbia in Group D in the preliminary round.

“We had a tough and intense preparation for the EURO in Croatia and now will try to get as far as possible. Any player of our team is on fire and we are eagerly awaiting the start and the challenges we have to face,” says team captain Gunner Rehmke.

“We will see a lot of teams we never played before, making it hard to predict a final ranking. For sure, we are looking forward those international duels and to winning as many matches as possible.”

The German squad for the U18 EURO in Croatia:

Goalkeepers: Till Klimpke (HSG Dutenhofen), Tim Hottgenroth (TSV Bayer Dormagen)

Court players: Tim Matthes (Füchse Berlin), Robin Breitenfeldt (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Sebastian Heymann (TSB Heilbronn-Horkheim), Niklas Diebel (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Lukas Stutzke (TSV Bayer Dormagen), Eloy Morante Maldonado (TSV Bayer Dormagen), Luis Villgrattner (HBW Balingen-Weilstetten), Lukas Kister (TSV GWD Minden), Gregor Remke (EHV Aue), Dimitri Ignatow (MT Melsungen), Jakob Knauer (Füchse Berlin), Ferris Klotz (THW Kiel), Marcel Timm (VfL Gummersbach), Moritz Strosack (SG Ottenheim/Altenheim)

Photos: Hubert Kemper / DHB

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ts