Long-time national team captain Uwe Gensheimer is not one of Germany’s handball players among the favorites at the upcoming home European Championships.

“The quality of the team is there overall. The question will be whether they can put it on the record for 60 minutes throughout the tournament and in every game,” said the left winger in the “First 7” podcast.

The DHB team begins its medal mission on January 10th against Switzerland. Other group opponents are co-favorites France and North Macedonia. The best two teams qualify for the main round.

Young team with perspective

With a view to the other major tournaments in the next few years, Gensheimer (37) is much more optimistic. “The team is very young and talented. They will be much better in the next two or three years, and then I see a bright future for the national team,” said Gensheimer, who retired from the national team in 2021.

At the beginning of December, the man from Mannheim announced that he would end his handball career after this season and become sports director at the Rhein-Neckar Löwen. Gensheimer, who has played a key role in shaping German handball over the last 15 years, is currently recovering from a meniscus and cruciate ligament injury. From 2011 to 2014 he was voted Germany’s Handball Player of the Year four times in a row.