Overview
- Germany face Austria in Herning on 15 January at 20:30 CET, with the match live on ARD as Dyn streams all 65 tournament games and ARD/ZDF carry Germany’s fixtures.
- Nils Lichtlein misses the opener due to a left forefoot injury, with coach Alfred Gislason hoping for a return during the group stage; Renars Uscins is deemed fit to play though not at 100 percent.
- The Group A slate includes Austria, Serbia and Spain, and results carry into the Hauptrunde, heightening the cost of any early slip before likely meetings with Denmark and France in Herning.
- Gislason projects confidence after wins over Croatia and calls this his best national team, but Denmark enter as the clear favorite as co-host and reigning world and Olympic champion.
- Italy return to the European Championship for the first time since 1998 under coach Bob Hanning, who targets the Hauptrunde despite injuries in a Group F with Iceland, Hungary and Poland.