The German handball players also impressed in the final, even if they lost it. The defeat against the clear favorites Norway was narrower than expected (20:23), and it was exciting until the last minute. The miracle, the first World Cup title since 1993, was possible. The players are rightly proud of their performance.
The attacking game was not flexible enough for the really big triumph. But as was the case throughout the tournament, the defense center around Aimée von Pereira and Emily Vogel, which was well organized by coach Markus Gaugisch, shone. Norway won its fifth World Championship in Rotterdam, but at times slight doubts seemed to shine through on the face of world handball player Henny Reistad.
For the fans who have grown a little over the past two weeks, there is good news and bad news. First the good: Second place, the best placement in three decades, was probably not a one-hit wonder. German women’s handball will probably continue to be successful in sports. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, the age structure of the national team speaks for this. Apart from 37-year-old captain Antje Döll, she can continue playing until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Young players like Nieke Kühne, 21, Viola Leuchter, 21, and Nina Engel, 22, have a lot ahead of them. Pereira’s defense chief, 25, and goalkeeper Katharina Filter, 26, are only at the beginning of their development. Xenia Smits and Emily Vogel, who have each played more than 140 international matches, can also play for years to come. New young talent could soon join the backcourt.
Exception BVB
Secondly, competition is decreasing. The Netherlands have an old team, Norway a relatively old one. Goalkeeper Katrine Lunde, who made many saves in the final, is 45 and will retire. Other former top nations such as Montenegro and Spain have suffered, which is why former Germany goalkeeper Dinah Eckerle said she was “shocked” at the level at the tournament. Only the team from France, which defeated Germany in the semi-finals, is similarly young.
Thirdly, the German Handball Federation (DHB) wants to set up four performance centers for young talent based on the model of Dutch handball (Papendal). The first bases in Leipzig and Stuttgart are scheduled to open in 2027. There are also some in the north (probably Hamburg) and in Dortmund. The DHB board member Ingo Meckes has successfully established such a structure in Switzerland.
That’s where the bad news begins. Meckes has to enforce this against the resistance of the Handball Bundesliga (HBF). German women’s handball does not proceed as a united front. The economic situation is even more serious. Borussia Dortmund’s high budget is the exception because BVB, which has a large number of members, can afford to cross-subsidize its female handball players thanks to its success in men’s football.
Men’s TV money is more than 60 times as high
Most clubs, on the other hand, are dependent on patrons or a few sponsors. The financially strongest club, the Champions League finalist HB Ludwigsburg, filed for bankruptcy in September because the shirt manufacturer Olymp pulled out. The national players and World Cup participants Jenny Behrend, Xenia Smits, Viola Leuchter, Mareike Thomaier and Antje Döll were suddenly unemployed. Since then, Behrend has had to do part-time work in Oldenburg.
Women’s handball is also having a hard time because women’s football has replaced it on public television. Peter Prior, the manager of the top club Buxtehuder SV, says: “NDR used to come by more often, but today that hardly happens anymore.” DHB President Andreas Michelmann complains about the “monopolization” of football among women.
The public attention paid to handball players is at a very low level. HBF games are hidden behind the Sporteurope TV paywall. The TV revenue is only around 150,000 euros annually. This corresponds to around 1.5 percent of that of the men’s Bundesliga. A significant sum.
For women’s handball this all means: we can look forward to the next national selection tournament, the European Championships in December 2026. But until then he will disappear back into the niche.
