Overview
- Germany advanced to the U18-EM final by beating Spain 32:27 in the semifinal on Friday after overturning a one‑goal halftime deficit with a dominant second half.
- Goalkeeper Tjorven Knackstedt produced game‑defining saves across the knockout rounds, including a 14‑save performance in the quarterfinal that helped Germany defeat Iceland 33:31.
- The German run to Sunday’s final at 19:30 in Belgrade combined resilience with favorable tournament math, as Germany reached the quarterfinals as the second‑best third‑placed team after main‑round losses.
- The squad blends top club youth prospects and legacy names—eight players were part of Germany’s 2025 U17 world‑championship team and several players are sons of former Bundesliga internationals.
- The knockout games have been intensely physical, producing multiple suspensions and red cards, and Germany’s staff plan to use Saturday’s rest day for recovery before facing Slovenia in the final.