Overview
- Germany faces Austria on 15 January at 20:30 in Herning, with live coverage on ARD and full tournament streaming on Dyn.
- Team manager Benjamin Chatton confirmed Nils Lichtlein will miss the opener with a left forefoot injury, while Renars Uscins is available despite not being at 100 percent.
- Coach Alfred Gislason describes the draw as one of his toughest, sets a semifinal target, and says this is the best national team he has coached.
- Group A also features Spain and Serbia, and only the top two progress to the main round, where carried-over points could set up meetings with Denmark and France.
- Italy returns to the tournament for the first time since 1998 under coach Bob Hanning, who aims for the main round despite injuries in a Group F with Iceland, Hungary and Poland.