Despite being the reigning champions, the German women’s coaching team are happy to pass the favourite’s title onto the Netherlands as they begin their EuroHockey U21 Championship title defence this week.
“I see Holland as the top favourite to win the title,” says coach Dominic Giskes. “The Dutch women made a very good impression in the test matches that we played against them at the end of June. But we also showed that we can beat them, and that is also the goal.”
He was referring to a 4-3 win in one dress rehearsal in Mönchengladbach before falling 4-1 to the same opposition.
The next meeting with the Dutch in Terrassa can only take place in the semi-finals at the earliest, because the Dutch are playing in Group A together with Belgium, France and hosts Spain, while Germany are playing in Group B with Ireland, England and Austria (in that order).
“I do think that we are the favourites in our group with England and we definitely have a chance of making it to the semi-finals. And then we have to see who we are playing against. The other group is certainly stronger,” said Giskes, assessing the first phase of the tournament.
“It will certainly be a very big challenge, also due to the temperatures that will prevail there. The first games are all scheduled for lunchtime, so let’s see what awaits us.”
Four players who contributed to Germany’s ninth European Junior Championship title in Ghent in July 2022 with a shootout final victory over hosts Belgium are still in the team: goalkeeper Mia Böhringer and Marie Fischer, Julia Hemmerle and Sophia Schwabe.
The trio of players also played in the Under-21 World Cup in December 2023, where Germany finished sixth in Santiago de Chile. With Taja Gans, Katharina Haid, Friedrike Heusgen, Mia Montag, Paula Nahr, Laura Plüth, Martina Reisenegger Lillo and Paula Schröder, another eight World Cup players are in the German squad for this upcoming event.
“Only goalkeeper Finja Starck has never played in a major tournament in our squad, otherwise everyone has already gained experience at such events,” says the coach, who describes his team as a “good mix”.
“We don’t necessarily have a real superstar in our ranks, but what sets us apart is that we are very well staffed and well-staffed in all positions.
“Of course, we don’t just want to go there and be tourists, we also want to play for the title. We’ll have to wait and see whether we manage to do that. Of course, it depends a bit on our form on the day, luck and what we can do.
“We want to improve from game to game and then play against tough opponents in the semi-finals. And then we want to be on the pitch in the last game of the tournament and of course win that game.”
Best performances: Winners – 6 times (1977, 1979, 1988, 2006, 2008, 2022)
