With the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Championships beginning on Thursday, today we meet the teams who will be contesting Pool A, hoping to land a top two spot which will bring a place in the semi-finals.
The group is headed up by world number one side Austria, bidding for a fourth title to bounce back from missing out on a medal two years ago in Leuven.
Chief among their showdowns will be a rematch with Poland who knocked them out at the semi-final stage in 2024 before the Austrians bounced back in the Indoor World Cup on a 6-2 scoreline.
Czechia are the other experienced outfit, competing in their 16th consecutive Euros, dating back to 1994.
The other two sides are less experienced with Portugal making just their third appearance, finishing seventh two years ago, while Türkiye are making their debut.
Here’s how the teams line up:
Pool A
Austria
- World ranking: 1st
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 18
- Best finish: 1st (2010, 2018, 2022)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 4 | Fülöp Losonci | Harvestehuder THC | 20 | 26 |
| 5 | Sebastian Eitenberger | SV Arminen | 66 | 39 |
| 10 | Marcin Nyckowiak | SV Arminen | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Nikolas Wellan | Der Club an der Alster | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Benjamin Stanzl | Post SV | 89 | 64 |
| 15 | Florian Steyrer | SV Arminen | 25 | 2 |
| 19 | Maximilian Kelner | SV Arminen | 6 | 1 |
| 27 | Benjamin Kölbl | Hamburger Polo Club | 12 | 0 |
| 32 | Mateusz Szymczyk (GK) | SV Arminen | 79 | 0 |
| 40 | Christoph Sandbichler (GK) | SV Arminen | 4 | 0 |
| 91 | Patrick Schmidt | SV Arminen | 72 | 21 |
| 93 | Xaver Hasun © | Harvestehuder THC | 49 | 18 |
| Coach | Robin Rösch | |||
| Manager | Carsten Alisch | |||
| Assistant Coach | Fabian Unterkircher | |||
| Physiotherapist | Magdalena Mitschdörfer | |||
| Video Technician | Jeroen Schoemaker | |||
Overview: Austria are always one of the key contenders on this stage and they bring a strong panel to the competition once again, led by Xaver Hasun who captained their 2022 success in Hamburg.
The Red Capricorns come into the competition off the back of victory at the Röhrmax Cup in Vienna last weekend with wins over Ireland, Czechia and Croatia along with a draw against Belgium.
There is vast experience in the likes of Patrick Schmidt (72 caps), Mateusz Szymczyk (79 caps), Benny Stanzl (89 caps) and Sebastian Eitenberger (66 caps) who are the tournament’s top four capped players.
They will, however, miss the long-term injured Fabian Unterkircher who suffered an ACL tear. It does open the door for a couple of new names to make their mark with the uncapped Marcin Nyckowiak and Nikolas Wellan already established outdoor internationals. Fülöp Losonci will, once again, be their key man up front.
Official press release: https://hockey.at/news/naechste-etappe-europameisterschaft-halle-2026
Czechia
- World ranking: 10th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 15
- Best finish: 2nd (1997, 2012)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 2 | Petr Větrovský (GK) | HC Bohemians Praha | 16 | 0 |
| 3 | Jakub Homolka | TJ Plzeň-Litice | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Štěpán Klaban | HC 1972 Rakovník / HC Klein Zwitserland | 11 | 2 |
| 6 | Kryštof Šesták | TJ Plzeň-Litice | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | František Toms | SK Slavia Praha | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Vít Soukup | HC Bohemians Praha | 22 | 7 |
| 10 | Josef Toms | SK Slavia Praha / Hockey Namur | 12 | 8 |
| 17 | Lukáš Plochý | DTV Hannover | 50 | 61 |
| 19 | Adam Uhlíř © | TJ Plzeň-Litice | 22 | 2 |
| 20 | Ondřej Soukup | HC Bohemians Praha | 23 | 5 |
| 22 | Martin Seemann | HC 1972 Rakovník | 30 | 22 |
| 33 | Vojtěch Pažitka (GK) | TJ Mnichovice / UD Taburiente | 5 | 0 |
| Coach | Ales Perinka | |||
| Coach | Miroslav Ludvík | |||
| Manager | Nikola Mládková | |||
| Physiotherapist | Julius Smolej | |||
| Video Technician | Magdaléna Haltuchova |
Overview: Czechia come into the competition following a fifth place finish at the Röhrmax Cup, ending on a high with a resounding 11-1 win over the US. It added to an earlier victory over Ireland but setbacks against Belgium and Austria mean there is plenty to work on.
The prolific Lukáš Plochý is a talisman in what will be his eighth Euro indoor campaign while Martin Seemann is another who has been with the side for almost a decade.
The 17-year-old František Toms is at the other end of the spectrum; he was part of the Röhrmax panel along with his brother Josef while Jakub Homolka is another young gun who could be making his debut on this stage.
Poland
- World ranking: 7th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 12
- Best finish: 2nd (1999, 2006, 2024); Bronze (1991, 2014, 2018)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Mateusz Popiołkowski (GK) | AZS Poznań University of Technology | 30 | 0 |
| 7 | Gracjan Jarzyński | HTHC Hamburg | 17 | 25 |
| 8 | Mikołaj Gumny | KS Warta Poznań | 18 | 7 |
| 9 | Jacek Kurowski © | WKS Grunwald Poznań | 23 | 17 |
| 10 | Maksymilian Koperski | LKS Rogowo | 21 | 1 |
| 16 | Jakub Janicki | LKS Gąsawa | 38 | 0 |
| 17 | Patryk Pawlak | AZS AWF Poznań | 23 | 11 |
| 21 | Jakub Chumeńczuk | AZS Poznań University of Technology | 9 | 1 |
| 23 | Eryk Bembenek | DTV Hannover | 6 | 5 |
| 24 | Mateusz Nowakowski | AZS AWF Poznań | 12 | 1 |
| 28 | Jakub Hołosyniuk | AZS Poznań University of Technology | 6 | 1 |
| 32 | Maksymilian Pawlak (GK) | WKS Grunwald Poznań | 1 | 0 |
| Coach | Dariusz Rachwalski | |||
| Manager | Tin Matković | |||
| Stand-in Manager | Karol Sniezek | |||
| Physiotherapist | Lukasz Karbowksi | |||
| Video Technician | Tomasz Kawa |
Overview: Poland produced a masterclass in efficient indoor in 2024 to reach the final of the competition, their ability to soak up pressure and then counter-attack at speed allowed them to pick off sides throughout the tournament and equal their best ever finish.
In total, nine of the Leuven class are back for this competition with one enforced change due to the injury of Robert Pawlak.
Of the three players coming, Eryk Bembenek, Mateusz Hołosyniuk and Mateusz Nowakowski did all play in the World Cup in Poreč last year, meaning this is a side packed with knowledge.
Bembenk was a key figure in that campaign, scoring five times in six matches as the Poles ended in fifth place overall, only missing out on the semi-finals at the hands of Germany in a shoot-out.
Jacek Kurowski – now based in Belgium with Gantoise outdoors after a spell with TSV Mannheim – once again captains the team and is one of the driving forces as is defensive lynch-pin Jakub Janicki.
Up front, Gracjan Jarzyński lit up the event in Leuven two years ago with nine goals and he backed that up with 15 more in the World Cup. This season, he is the Harvestehuder THC top scorer with the Hamburg club topping the north division of the German indoor Bundesliga.
Portugal
- World ranking: 20th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 2
- Best finish: 7th (2024)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | António Camacho (GK) | Casa Pia Ac | 23 | 0 |
| 2 | David Franco © | GladbacherHTC | 32 | 68 |
| 7 | Miguel Rodrigues | Delta Venlo HC | 18 | 4 |
| 8 | José Valinhas Santos | AD Lousada | 21 | 6 |
| 9 | Rodrigo Castro | Amicale AAHC | 15 | 7 |
| 10 | Quentin Halfmann | GladbacherHTC | 6 | 3 |
| 11 | Ivo Moreira | Delta Venlo HC | 26 | 10 |
| 13 | Fábio Vieira | MHC Reigers | 7 | 0 |
| 14 | Tiago Sousa | Amicale AAHC | 24 | 14 |
| 15 | Miguel Pereira | CLT Orleans | 8 | 1 |
| 17 | Laurens Halfmann | GladbacherHTC | 6 | 6 |
| 18 | Baltazar Portugal (GK) | Racing Bruxelles | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | Santiago Ferreira | CF Benfica | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Emil Gomes | TSV Mannheim | 0 | 0 |
| Coach | Marcos Ferreira | |||
| Manager | Vitor Valinhas | |||
| Assistant Coach | Christoph Bechmann | |||
| Assistant Coach | Carlos Silva | |||
| Physiotherapist | André Reolon | |||
| Video Technician | Mario Almeida | |||
Overview: Portugal approaches this European championship drawing upon the valuable experience gained in Leuven 2024. With a more mature squad, the team is determined to build on their journey and aim higher in this year’s competition.
The side is captained by David Franco, the accomplished Gladbacher HTC midfielder, who is now set to participate in his eighth European championship. The core of the team is mainly built with a set of players from the German Bundesliga, as well as the Belgian and Dutch leagues, reflecting a strong international presence and depth of experience.
Portugal further strengthens its campaign with an experienced addition to the technical staff: Christoph Bechmann. Formerly the head coach of Harvestehuder THC for 14 years and currently serving as Technical Director of Polo Hamburg, Bechmann offers significant expertise. His involvement is expected to provide the team with the necessary tactical know-how.
The team’s preparations began early on German soil with their base camp established at Gladbach THC. Arriving in Heidelberg with ample time ahead of the tournament, Portugal has scheduled test matches against other championship teams, ensuring they are well-prepared for the upcoming challenge.
Türkiye
- World ranking: 21st
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: debut appearance
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Necip Çilkiz (GK) | Volkan Group Sk | 14 | 0 |
| 2 | Ali Akin Özkılıç | Gaziantep Polisgücü | 21 | 22 |
| 5 | Onur Açi̇kgöz | Gaziantep Hokeygücü | 16 | 23 |
| 7 | Numan Poyraz | Metpack Alanya Yildizlari | 14 | 12 |
| 8 | Furkan Ataş | Volkan Group Sk | 22 | 13 |
| 9 | Celal Aydin | Selçuklu Belediyespor | 26 | 39 |
| 10 | Müslüm Elagöz | Volkan Group Sk | 17 | 31 |
| 12 | Sait Can Kalkan | Selçuklu Belediyespor | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Vakif Can Kilinç | Metpack Alanya Yildizlari | 4 | 2 |
| 15 | Volkan Başer | DTV Hannover | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Tolunay Kasim | Gaziantep Polisgücü | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Müslüm Ekinci | Gaziantep Polisgücü | 11 | 7 |
| Coach | Zafer Kir | |||
| Manager | Can Yurtseven | |||
| Assistant Coach | Vural Karaoğlan | |||
| Assistant Coach | Murat Demirci | |||
| Video Technician | Paul Bonisep | |||
| Video Technician | Ismail Yilmaz |
Overview: Türkiye will become the 19th different nation to play in the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Championship when they hit the boards on Thursday morning against Portugal.
It follows a rapid rise in recent years, culminating in their gold from the EuroHockey Indoor Championship II-B competition in Budapest two years ago.
This year’s selection draws heavily from the Gaziantep region with eight of the panel from either Volkan Group SK, Gaziantep Hokeygücü or the famed Polisgücü teams. The remaining hail from either Konya and Alanya while Volkan Baser plays with DTV Hannover in the Bundesliga.
A number of players link coach Zafer Kir’s playing time – which ended in 2016 – with the Heidelberg panel, namely Ali Akin Özkiliç and Celal Aydin, the latter being their top scorer in 2024’s promotion tournament with 14 goals.
Goalkeeper Necip Çilkiz, captain Onur Açi̇kgöz, Furkan Ataş, Müslüm Elagoz (12 goals in 2024) and Müslüm Ekinci were also part of that success.
At the other end of the spectrum, Volkan Başer, Tolunay Kasim and Sait Can Kalkan are set for their debuts.
More about Türkiye: https://eurohockey.org/huge-step-for-ambitious-turkiye-and-coach-kir-in-heidelberg
