EHF: EHC 2023 – Germany and Netherlands set for battle royale in men’s Pool B

The 2021 men’s finalists Germany and the Netherlands are set for another battle royale in Pool B in Mönchengladbach while France and Wales will be looking to put them under pressure this week. Here’s a look at each of the sides: 

Men’s Pool B  

France  

• World ranking:11th  
• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 16 

• Best finish: 4th (1970)  

Overview: The only side currently assured of a spot at the Paris Olympics, France go into the competition looking to build momentum ahead of next summer. Their summer has already seen them beat Australia 4-1. 

In 2021, it was something of a rollercoaster as they beat Russia 6-5 but lost on the same scoreline against Germany having led 5-3 at half-time. A strong 3-2 win over Spain saw them finish in sixth place, their best finish since 2005. 

France’s Victor Charlet. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics

A quintet of their wider panel won the Belgian league with Gantoise this season while Lucan Montecot – who scored on debut against Australia – and Corentin Sellier helped CA Montrouge to the French crown. Their training squad has eight men with over 100 caps with Victor Charley leading the way, scoting 86 goals in his 153 games. 

 Germany  

• World ranking: 5th 
• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 19 

• Best finish: Winners – 8 times (1970, 1978, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2013)  

Overview: The German men’s squad is led by Mats Grambusch and features 15 players who were part of the successful squad at the World Cup in India in January this year. The most experienced player is Martin Zwicker with 294 caps, the youngest is Jean Danneberg at 20.  

The team consists of players from eight different clubs. In Timm Herzbruch and Johannes Große, they have two players celebrating their comeback in a tournament squad, who last played at the Olympic Games in Tokyo but then dropped out due to injury.  

Niklas Wellen celebrates in 2021. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics

Herzbruch faces his 100th cap in the opening match against Wales and has already scored an impressive 50 goals for Germany. Große should pull the strings in midfield and demonstrate his strategic skills. Malte Hellwig, as one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga, also joins the squad. Hellwig completed his last tournament at the 2019 Euros. Christopher Rühr is taking time out from the squad for educational reasons. 

Official press release: https://magazin.hockey.de/articles/em-kader-honamas  

Netherlands  

• World ranking: 1st  
• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 19 

• Best finish: Winners – 6 times (1983, 1987, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2021)  

Overview: Jeroen Delmée said of his tournament selection: “There are really many players who deserve to be involved. We have tried to form the best composition per line and position. It was really hard to make the right choices, but we think with this selection we have the best chance to defend our title. Briefing the players is always a difficult moment because everyone has worked hard in recent months.” 

Seve van Ass (HGC), Teun Beins (Bloemendaal), Max de Bie (Orange-Red), Jasper Brinkman (Bloemendaal), Boris Burkhardt (Amsterdam), and Pepijn Reyenga (Den Bosch) missed out on final selection from the panel.  The national coach was also waiting on the final choice between Pirmin Blaak and Derk Meijer as second keeper. This has to do, among other things, with the imminent birth of Blaak’s child. 

The Dutch shone in the Pro League this year with a run of five successive wins – 10 unbeaten in total – to conclude the competition, including two successes against Belgium and one against Germany. Joep de Mol is the comeback story having missed out on the World Cup while Kampong’s Duco Telgenkamp is the break-out star, scoring five times in his first six international matches. 

They were forced into one late change with Tjep Hoedemakers out injured with Floris MIddendorp coming into the squad.

Official press release: https://www.knhb.nl/nieuws/bondscoach-delmee-maakt-selectie-ek-hockey-2023-bekend 

Wales  

• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 11 
• Best finish: 6th – 2 times (1974, 1999, 2019)  

Overview: Wales will be competing in the EuroHockey Championship in Germany for a third successive edition of the Euros off the back of their 11th place finish at their debut World Cup in January.   Luke Hawker and Rupert Shipperly have been named as captains while Ben Francis is in line to receive his 100th cap at the competition. Gareth Furlong – with 95 goals in 143 games – is there sharp-shooter while star-man Jacob Draper recently signed for Dutch champions Pinoké.   

Wales celebrate a Gareth Furlong goal in 2021. Pic: Koen Suyk/World Sport Pics

Head Coach Danny Newcombe said: “The opportunity to compete in our third EuroHockey Championships in succession and continue to compete with the European elite is one that we will relish and lean into as a group. There is always something special about a EuroHockey tournament and I am excited to see us continue to set the bar. The squad has a wealth of tournament experience and ready to put another marker down.” 

 Official press release: https://www.hockeywales.org.uk/post/hockey-wales-announce-senior-men-s-squad-for-upcoming-european-tournament