Berlin’s Matthes Langhoff (right) should help against Switzerland and Turkey to make the qualification perfect for the EM 2026.
Photo: Imago/Andreas Gora
Matthes Langhoff would have been happy to have a breather. The 23-year-old has been in constant use for months and is hunting from appointment to appointment-with great success: in the handball Bundesliga, Langhoff’s Foxes Berlin greet six game days before the end of the table, in the Champions League they qualified for the second DMAL in their club history for the final tournament, which will be held on the second Juni weekend in Cologne. In view of the tireless program, it would certainly not have been the worst idea to take a little breath.
On the other hand, Langhoff is still at the beginning of the career, his body regenerates comparatively quickly – and it was also not just an invitation that recently received the native Neubrandenburg, but that of national coach Alfreð Gíslason. In addition to Langhoff, the Icelander in the service of the DHB has nominated two more debutants for the upcoming international matches in the European Championship qualification against Switzerland on Wednesday (7 p.m., Livestream on Sportschau.de) and Turkey on Sunday, which have drawn attention to the club with good performances and are now allowed to reject the wages. In addition to Langhoff, the right winger Mathis Häseler from VfL Gummersbach and district runner Aron Seesing from the second division Bergischer HC are also present. Gíslason consistently continues the rejuvenation of the national team, which has been going on for some time.
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Switzerland is about group victory
The framework conditions make it relatively easy for the 65-year-old to continue the path taken: In qualification group 7, Germany stands before the final two matches with 7: 1 points at the top of the table two points in front of the Swiss team that has so far been the hardest adversary and is direct opponent on Wednesday. The established optimism does not want to leave the established coach. Instead, Gíslason promises: “We will do everything we can to win both games and to secure first place in the qualification.” This is not least important for the setting of the European Championship.
A victory against Switzerland also has the advantage that Gíslason could use the last qualification game against Turkey as a test under competition conditions and try tactical variants that have so far been rehearsed in training at best. The Icelander makes no secret of the purpose of using the current course with his selection players: “We also look at the upcoming tournaments and therefore have a look at players with perspective.” For example, Matthes Langhoff from the foxes, who-just like the Rhein-Neckar Löwen and TSV Hannover-Burgdorf-each with three actors and thus the largest block of the 19 men Place DHB squads.
Talents make the jump to the top
In general, when looking at the current contingent, it is noticeable how well it is now to be used in German handball for the topic of follow -up funding. A few years ago there was a fundamental problem in the fact that talented young players received too few deployment times in their clubs and that their talent was rarely able to fully develop. Before the two qualifying games against Switzerland and Turkey is now exactly a player in the squad who is older than 30 years: exceptional goalkeeper Andreas Wolff (34). All other appointed, the experts agree, have their best years in front of them. Even Johannes Golla, who has been wearing the captain’s armband in the national team for four years now, is only 27 years old.
In total, Gíslason has again appointed seven players who won the title at the U21 World Cup in Germany two years ago, have long been a regular personnel in their clubs and are considered a big promise for the upcoming tournaments. Until the European Championships in Denmark, Sweden and Norway (January 15 to February 1, 2026) will take a few more months, but there is no daring forecast to say: Alfreð Gíslason will not lack young, hungry and talented players in the future-provided his team is doing the sporting formalities this week and clarifies the European Championship qualification this week.