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Gino Smits tests the U18 national team: Off to the European Championships in Krefeld!
On September 21st, 2025, the German U18 national team will meet the Netherlands in Krefeld. National coach Gino Smits relies on the European Championship squad.
Gino Smits tests the U18 national team: Off to the European Championships in Krefeld!
A big day for German handball! Next Sunday there will be an exciting three-way test between Germany and the Netherlands in Krefeld. This not only affects the female U18 youth, but also the juniors and the DHB women. National coach Gino Smits has an eye on the talent and relies on the European Championship squad to bring a breath of fresh air into the emerging handball scene.
But what exactly is happening in Krefeld? The course aims to process the experiences from the European Championships in Montenegro. The German U17 national team played in an exciting tournament and achieved a solid 11th place. Not everything was smooth sailing: the team managed a draw against the European champions Slovakia, but narrowly lost to the fourth-placed team in the European Championship and was only able to achieve a draw in the last game against Denmark. Smits critically analyzed that the necessary rip-off was often missing and that some opponents were physically superior.
The players in focus
The squad playing in Krefeld is made up of 16 talented players who were able to record a win in the last placement game. An important sign of motivation and team spirit! Here is an overview of the players:
- Torhüterinnen: Louisa Werner, Marlene Wagner, Annkathrin Köhler, Anabel Rohde, Lotta Willuhn
- Linksaußen: Jette Dürk, Anika Kutschera, Anni Wilke, Jette Lojewski, Emily Liv Bach
- Rechtsaußen: Mira Bender, Tilda Halbe, Mara Lehmann
- Rückraum links: Adele Kasper, Lisa Lammich, Jule-Marie Jördens, Ida Subke, Linnea Radzeviciute, Anni Horn, Charlize Tesch
- Rückraum Mitte: Fine Stenzel, Pia Kastner, Meggan Rusko, Elsa Wonnenberg, Mia Fuchs, Pia Freudenstein
- Rückraum rechts: Nora Lange, Tamina Kugler, Hanna Walther, Paula Hofer, Samira Weiß
- Kreis: Nele Kurok, Victoria Hardekopf, Katlyn Reymann, Romy Klein, Katharina Bär, Lilly Ciudad Benitez
In addition to Gino Smits, assistant coach Maike Daniels and several experienced supervisors are also in the background to prepare the players as best as possible for the challenges ahead. A well-positioned team that comes around the corner with a strong staff and focuses on the development of the players.
A look at the future
Smits sees the three international matches in Krefeld as a great opportunity to exchange impressions of the European Championship and to further develop the talent. He also hopes that numerous coaches and managers from the women's handball Bundesliga will find their way into the audience to experience the potential of young German players up close. “We have outstanding talent in our country,” emphasizes Smits, and that should also be reflected on the pitch.
Handball in Germany is on the rise, and the three-way test in Krefeld will certainly be another step in the right direction. We can't wait to see how the German talents perform!