Coach: Michael Biegler

Key players: Clara Woltering (Goalkeeper), Anna Loerper (Centre back), Emily Bölk (Left back)

Qualification information: Hosts

History in tournament: 1957: 4th*, 1962: 8th*, 1965: 3rd*, 1971: 1st**, 5th*, 1973: 9th**, 11th*, 1975: 1st**, DNQ*, 1978: 1st**, 8th*, 1982: 4th**, 9th*, 1986: 4th**, 7th*, 1990: 3rd**, 4th*, 1993: 1st, 1995: 5th, 1997: 3rd, 1999: 7th, 2001: DNQ, 2003: 12th, 2005: 6th, 2007: 3rd, 209: 7th, 2011: 17th, 2013: 7th, 2015: 13th

*FRG = Federal Republic of Germany, **GDR = German Democratic Republic

 

Overview:

The Germany women’s team have not been one of the most dangerous sides at recent major international competitions, but with the appointment of coach Michael Biegler in April 2016, a new era began with the goal of a dream home IHF World Championship in 2017. Biegler succeeded Danish Jakob Vestergaard, and led the team he nicknamed the ‘Ladies’ to sixth place at the EHF EURO 2016 in December – his first major competition at the helm.

The role with the Germany women’s team is Biegler’s first with a female squad, following many years of success in men’s handball including coaching 15 different clubs and the Poland men’s side. Biegler guided the Poland team to bronze at the 2015 IHF Men’s World Championship in Qatar, and will finish his contract with the women’s national team after Germany 2017 – for which the coach, team and German Handball Federation have big dreams:

“Our dream and hope is to make it to the final weekend in Hamburg. Since I took over this job, all players worked so hard that they really deserve to finish among the best four in Hamburg,” says Biegler. “10 years after our last World Championship medal, we want to create excitement for women’s and girl’s handball in Germany – and also set the base for a successful future of women’s handball on a national team and club level.”

“We all have a huge anticipation for the World Championship on home ground,” continues goalkeeper and co-captain Clara Woltering. “We have a great euphoria in the squad and we hope we can spread this euphoria to all handball fans in Germany. Our major asset is the team spirit and the dedication to the “Biegler Ladies” project. We really hope for huge crowds and to win a medal in Hamburg.”

“Since the start of the preparation for the current season, I have this tournament permanently on my mind. I really count the days until it starts,” adds co-captain Anna Loerper, who was awarded German Female Handball Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. “Having a World Championship on home ground is a once-in-a-lifetime-experience, something you will never forget.”

At the previous World Championship in 2015, Germany placed 13th after reaching the knock-out stage but losing to Norway in the eighth-final. With that ranking, the team missed a place at the Olympic Qualification Tournaments, returning to the international stage for the EHF EURO 2016. Under the leadership of Biegler, their performance improved at the continental championship, where they placed sixth.

At the 2017 World Championship, Germany play from preliminary round Group D, where they will meet 2015 World Championship and 2016 European championship runner-up Netherlands, 2013 runners-up Serbia, Republic of Korea, PR of China, and Cameroon.

“We were drawn into an interesting but demanding group,” says Biegler. “Facing two teams from Asia means that you have to adapt to their fast style of playing. [Republic of] Korea are supposed to be the stronger of those two.

“Never in history has a German women’s team faced Cameroon, but we will prepare intensely for our opening match. Of course, Serbia and mainly Netherlands are the favourites, besides us. Both we know well, both are physically strong, and the Dutch side is expected to top the group.”

Germany began their final stages of preparation with EHF EURO 2018 qualification matches against Lithuania and Turkey at the end of September, before meeting the Netherlands, Slovakia and Iceland in friendly games. The second test match against the Netherlands, played on October 29 in Berlin, took place exactly 100 years after the first women’s handball game ever played in Germany.

 

Fans can follow Germany on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

 

IHF & World Championship Social Media:

 

Follow the Germany 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship on our website, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, as well as on the tournament’s official website, Facebook, and Twitter channels.

 

Group at Germany 2017:
Group D: Netherlands, Germany, Serbia, Republic of Korea, P.R. of China, Cameroon

 

Games at Germany 2017:

All times local

Friday 1 December: Germany vs Cameroon 19:00
Sunday 3 December: Republic of Korea vs Germany 20:30 
Tuesday 5 December: Germany vs Serbia 18:00
Wednesday 6 December: Germany vs PR of China 18:00
Friday 8 December: Netherlands vs Germany 18:00