Women’s EuroHockey U21 Championship preview – Germany women
Appearances: 21
Best performances: 1st (1977*, 1979*, 1988, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2022) – * as West Germany
Germnay’s Under-21 women are looking to continue their impressive record which has seen them reach the top four in Europe in each of the 21 editions to date, winning the overall crown nine times,
Seven players from the team that competed at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Chile at the end of 2025 have been selected, including Taja Gans, Franziska Hagen, Victoria Käske, Mia Montag, Julia Schedl, Annika Schönhoff and Carolin Seidel. Indeed, Gans and Montag have amassed 38 caps each at youth level.
Schedl is an important attacking threat (6 international goals) as is Seidel (5 goals).
Their World Cup experience is complemented by a strong core from Germany’s U18 European Championship campaign in Lille in 2025, with Hagen, Käske and Schönhoff joined by Marie Buddenberg, Maxi Green, Franziska Pabsch and Emelie Tödter.
The squad also features Charlotte Hendrix, who arrives in Valencia as a reigning European indoor champion, helping Germany to gold in Prague earlier this year.
Coach Tobias Jordan believes the group has developed strongly in recent months and is ready for the challenge ahead.
** 24 EuroHockey U21 Championship matches from Pitch 1 in Valencia will be broadcast live on www.eurohockeytv.org with an €8.99 event pass (Click the graphic for more information)
“Being nominated for a European Championship is something special for every player and the result of hard work,” he said.
“We are looking forward to the challenge and will do everything we can to bring our potential as a team to the pitch in order to be successful. The team has developed well in recent weeks. We are happy that it’s finally starting now.”
He was at the helm of the Harvestehuder THC side who won the German women’s championship in 2025 and brought them to the EHL. There is further domestic success throughout the panel. Buddenberg, Schedl and Schönhoff were part of Düsseldorf HC’s German championship-winning side in 2026.
Several players have also gained exposure in the Euro Hockey League, including Clara Schäfers and Seidel.
Of further storylines, Maxi Green is the daughter of former World Hockey Player of the Year Michael Green, while Johanna Franz is the sister of Christian Franz, who helped Germany win the men’s Junior World Cup at the end of 2025.
Goalkeeper Franziska Hagen made a successful move to Bremer HC this season and established herself in the Bundesliga, while Hendrix’s indoor success underlines the versatility within the group.
Their last success came in 2022, a side rich in talent that shows the direct connection to the senior team with Sara Strauss, Lisa Nolte, Lilly Stoffelsma, Jette Fleschütz, Stine Kurz and Felicia Wiedermann all part of that side.
After finishing fourth at the 2024 edition in Terrassa, Germany will be determined to return to the podium in Valencia. They open their Pool B campaign against Ireland on July 26 before taking on Belgium on July 28 and Wales on July 29, with a place in the knockout stages firmly in their sights.
| # | Name | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | Klara BATSCHKO (GK) | 15 | 0 | Club an der Alster |
| 8 | Marie BUDDENBERG | 4 | 0 | Düsseldorfer HC |
| 6 | Ella FÖRTSCH (C) | 4 | 1 | Nürnberger HTC |
| 5 | Johanna FRANZ | 11 | 0 | Berliner HC |
| 11 | Taja GANS (C) | 38 | 2 | Club an der Alster |
| 26 | Maxi GREEN | 4 | 0 | Harvestehuder THC |
| 2 | Franziska HAGEN (GK) | 12 | 0 | Bremer HC |
| 14 | Charlotte HENDRIX | 16 | 2 | Großflottbeker THGC |
| 13 | Victoria KÄSKE | 10 | 1 | Berliner HC |
| 24 | Lena KELLER | 28 | 3 | Zehlendorfer Wespen |
| 23 | Mia MONTAG | 38 | 0 | Zehlendorfer Wespen |
| 28 | Franziska PABSCH | 4 | 2 | Großflottbeker THGC |
| 12 | Clara SCHÄFERS | 3 | 0 | Harvestehuder THC |
| 20 | Julia SCHEDL | 31 | 6 | Düsseldorfer HC |
| 9 | Annika SCHÖNHOFF | 10 | 3 | Düsseldorfer HC |
| 27 | Jessica SCHWARZ | 7 | 1 | HC Ludwigsburg |
| 10 | Carolin SEIDEL | 31 | 5 | Mannheimer HC |
| 25 | Emelie TÖDTER | 3 | 0 | Club an der Alster |
| Team Leader | Martin Schultze | |||
| Team Manager | Jana Pacyna | |||
| Head Coach | Tobias Jordan | |||
| Assistant Coach | Tobias Bergmann | |||
| Assistant Coach | Sabine Markert | |||
| Medical Doctor | Verena Meidl | |||
| Physiotherapist | Tobias Junggebauer | |||
| Physiotherapist | Franziska Wahl | |||
| Physical Trainer | Benjamin Linke | |||
| Video Technician | Michael Soff |
