Germany triumphed over Croatia for the first time in seven years in an official men’s handball match on Friday, securing a hard-fought 31-28 victory that propels them into the finals of the European Championships.
In Sunday’s championship showdown, the Germans will need to replicate that success if they aspire to lift the trophy, facing off against the formidable Danish team—current world and Olympic champions—in front of a fervent home crowd.
Denmark also advanced with a 31-28 win, but not without a battle against Iceland that tested their resolve more than anticipated. Impressively, Denmark has maintained an unbeaten streak against Germany since 2016, which includes a commanding 39-26 victory in the gold medal match at the 2024 Olympics, a 40-30 win at last year’s world championships, and a 31-26 group stage triumph earlier this week at the Euros.
Yet, despite the daunting history, German player Justus Fischer remains resolute: “Gold is possible. Everything must come together, then we can definitely beat Denmark. I am convinced that we have the quality. We just need to bring it onto the court, and I believe we will achieve that on Sunday.”
It’s worth noting that Denmark is not invincible; they encountered a surprising setback earlier in the tournament with a loss against Portugal, who ultimately finished fifth.
This final marks Germany’s first appearance since they last claimed the title in 2016 under then-coach Dagur Sigurdsson, who occupied the other bench as Croatia’s manager on Friday. Now, under the leadership of fellow Icelander Alfred Gislason, Fischer and his teammates are embracing the moment. Gislason expressed his pride in the team, highlighting the journey they’ve undertaken.
Confidence is on Germany’s side, having previously defeated Croatia in two friendly matches leading into the Euros—an indicator that fortunes may be shifting for the storied handball nation.
