Overview
- On Wednesday national coach Alfred Gislason said he and the team stand fully behind captain Johannes Golla and that he sees no change in Golla’s form or commitment.
- Golla had earlier sought a return from MT Melsungen to SG Flensburg-Handewitt and publicly cited psychological strain linked to a transfer that was announced in December 2024.
- Gislason said he will not intervene in the wider debate over long, pre-agreed handball contracts and declined to comment on rule changes as national coach.
- Germany opens EM 2028 qualifying in Berlin against Belgium on Thursday and Gislason said that playmaker Nils Lichtlein missed the camp with a shoulder injury but that this does not rule him out for the World Championship.
- Former players and internationals like Stefan Kretzschmar and Mathias Gidsel have called for reform of multi-year pre-arranged deals, a debate that could prompt rule changes affecting player welfare and club planning.