After a dip in the early 2020s, Germany went back to the drawing board and came back roaring. They finished fifth at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship and fourth at the EHF EURO 2024, being one of the teams which can always spring a surprise or two, with some excellent potential.

Much stems from the quality of the German Bundesliga, considered by many the top competition in the world, as all but one of the players in Alfred Gislason’s roster at the EHF EURO 2024 – goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who was also nominated for the IHF Male Player of the Year – featuring in the domestic competition.

While the EHF EURO 2024 brought Germany their best finish in eight years in the European continental competition, Gislason’s side had the largest number of losses – four – since 2008 and won only four matches, with another one ending in a draw, against Austria, while Germany had been supported by thousands of spectators in the stands.

The home advantage will be huge once again in Hanover, where the ZAG Arena is expected to be sold out and over 11.000 spectators will bring their voices and clapping to help Germany qualify for the 12th time for the Olympic Games.

A five-editions qualifying streak was snapped in 2012, when Germany failed to make the London 2012 line-up, but they came right back at Rio 2016, to seal the bronze medal. Their last appearance, at Tokyo 2020, saw Germany end on the sixth place, but with the current crop of players, Germany will hope to contend for a medal at Paris 2024, provided they make the final cut.

Wolff, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, who was also named the All-Star goalkeeper at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, anchors a solid defence, while in attack much of the magic is delivered through centre back Juri Knorr, also nominated for the IHF Young Male Player of the Year Award. Knorr was also the All-Star Best Young Player at Poland/Sweden 2023 and is Germany’s top scorer in the last years.

On paper, Germany are favoured to make the cut for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games via this Olympic Qualification Tournament, as they are the hosts and face Croatia, Algeria and Austria. Nevertheless, Austria held Germany to a 22:22 draw in the main round at the EHF EURO 2024, while Croatia won against the hosts in a dead rubber tie, 30:24, in January.

With a brimming potential, but a lack of medals to show for it, this might just be Germany’s chance to make one step further before they embark on a long journey towards hosting the IHF Men’s World Championship in 2027.

Key players: Andreas Wolff (goalkeeper), Juri Knorr (centre back), Johannes Golla (line player)
History at the Olympic Games: 1936: Winners, 1972: 6th, 1976: 4th, 1984: Silver medal, 1992: 10th, 1996: 7th, 2000: 5th, 2004: Silver medal, 2008: 9th, 2016: Bronze medal, 2020: 6th
Olympic Qualification Tournament #2 (in Hanover, Germany): Germany, Croatia, Algeria, Austria