With a blend of world-class experience and strategic freshness, head coach André Henning has confirmed his 18-player squad for the upcoming EuroHockey Championships (8–17 August) held on German soil.
Hockey fans at Warsteiner HockeyPark will witness a competitive Pool featuring defending champions the Netherlands, England, Wales, and France. Germany, buoyed by recent success, aims for a top-two finish to secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Just over four weeks before the start of the home EuroHockey Championship in Mönchengladbach, national coach André Henning has announced the names of the players who are set to shine for Germany at the HockeyPark.
The majority of the Honamas’ 18-man squad already boasts international tournament experience: goalkeepers Jean Danneberg and Alexander Stadler, along with outfield players Gonzalo Peillat, Thies Prinz, Hannes Müller, Moritz Ludwig, Teo Hinrichs, Paul Kaufmann, Lukas Windfeder, Justus Weigand, and the two Mönchengladbach-born brothers Tom and Mats Grambusch all featured at both the 2023 World Cup triumph and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Johannes Große won a silver medal with the team in Paris.
Making their major tournament debuts for the Honamas are Raphael Hartkopf, Erik Kleinlein, Benedikt Schwarzhaupt, and Michel Struthoff. Forward Christopher Rühr will not be available for the Euros due to his university studies.
National coach André Henning said:
“We’re excited about this team and for the players who secured a ticket to the Euros. It’s a huge privilege for each individual, and I’m certain the boys are eager to energize the HockeyPark.
At the same time, there were some incredibly difficult and therefore tough decisions to make. During the Pro League season alone, we used 30 players and achieved the best points tally Germany has ever recorded in that competition. That clearly shows that many candidates delivered exceptionally strong performances.
Of course, far more than just the 18 selected would have deserved the chance to play in Mönchengladbach. Every single player gave a lot to this team and this process right up until the final training session — they supported each other throughout. That makes it all the more disappointing when some don’t get the reward they truly earned.
It feels like a good mix — we have experience in the team, and with Erik Kleinlein, Benedikt Schwarzhaupt, Michel Struthoff, and Raphael Hartkopf, we also have four players who will be playing their first major tournament for us.”
In Pool B of the EuroHockey Championship, Germany’s men will face France (08 August), England (10 August), and Poland (12 August). The men’s final will take place on Saturday, 16 August.
Pictured: Tom Grambusch – World sport pics (c)
