Germany Maintains Perfect Record in EM Qualifiers with Victory Over North Macedonia
The German women’s national handball team continued its dominant run in the European Championship qualification process, securing a 35-27 victory over North Macedonia in Skopje on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The win marks the fifth consecutive success in five matches for the squad, ensuring they remain undefeated as they approach the finish of the qualifying stage.
With their spot in the tournament already guaranteed, head coach Markus Gaugisch used the match to evaluate depth and integrate new talent. The victory was achieved with a heavily rotated roster, featuring a “B-selection” of younger players and several debutants, while several key veterans were rested.
Nina Engel led the offensive effort for Germany, finishing as the top scorer with nine goals. Despite the comfortable final margin, the game provided a testing ground for a new generation of athletes tasked with maintaining the standards of the current vice-world champions.
Beim Sieg in Nordmazedonien feiern Talente ihr Debüt in der Nationalmannschaft. Der Erfolg ist verdient, die Überlegenheit hält sich aber in Grenzen.
Die deutschen Handballerinnen bleiben in der Europameisterschafts-Qualifikation weiter ungeschlagen. Das runderneuerte Team von Bundestrainer Markus Gaugisch setzte sich am fünften Spieltag gegen Nordmazedonien mit 35:27 (19:14) durch. Beste Werferin in Skopje war vor rund 400 Zuschauern Nina Engel mit neun Toren.
Da die Vize-Weltmeisterinnen durch ihre makellose Bilanz an den ersten vier Spieltagen bereits vor den abschließenden beiden Spielen als Gruppenerste feststanden, schonte Gaugisch zahlreiche Stammkräfte. Er nutzte die Partie, um Talenten eine Plattform zu bieten. In Chiara Rohr (18), Jana Walther und Lara Däuble (bege 19) gaben drei U19-Europameisterinnen von 2025 ihr Nationalmannschaftsdebüt. Alle drei trugen sich sogar in die Torschützenliste ein und feierten ihre Treffer mit einem breiten Grinsen.
Torhüter-Debütantin Kuske mit gutem Einstand
Zudem stand Laura Kuske (24) vom Thüringer HC in der zweiten Halbzeit erstmals im Tor der Nationalmannschaft. Für Lara Degenhardt war es hingegen eine Rückkehr. Zuletzt trug die linke Rückraumspielerin im März 2023 das DHB-Trikot. Sarah Wachter, Annika Lott und Marlene Tucholke fehlten verletzt.
Das Team hatte zunächst auch einige Probleme. Sowohl in der Defensive als auch in der Offensive fehlten Abstimmung und Kommunikation, sodass die Gastgeberinnen die Partie offen gestalten konnten und nicht wie im Hinspiel chancenlos waren. Mit nur fünf Toren Vorsprung ging es in die Pause.
Das änderte sich nach Wiederanpfiff. Deutschland agierte nun konzentrierter und nutzte die Lücken in der Hintermannschaft Nordmazedoniens gnadenlos aus. Dank eines Zwischenspurts wurde der Vorsprung immer größer. Als die Gäste in der Konzentration nachließen, gestaltete Nordmazedonien das Ergebnis für sich wesentlich freundlicher.
Am Sonntag zum Abschluss gegen Belgien
Zum Abschluss der Qualifikation trifft die DHB-Auswahl am Sonntag in Hamm auf Belgien. Die EM-Endrunde wird vom 3. Bis 20. Dezember in Polen, Rumänien, Tschechien, der Slowakei und der Türkei gespielt. Die Gruppenauslosung findet am 16. April statt.
A Strategic Casting Call for the Future
Because the German team had already secured its ticket to the European Championship finals through a flawless first four games, the match in Skopje served more as a developmental exercise than a high-stakes competition. Coach Gaugisch explicitly viewed the game as a “casting” opportunity for younger players to gain international experience.
The roster saw several high-profile absences. Starting goalkeeper Katharina Filter and backcourt specialist Emily Vogel were among the key players rested for the trip. The squad also faced challenges with injuries to Sarah Wachter, Annika Lott, and Marlene Tucholke.
In their place, Gaugisch introduced three standout performers from the 2025 U19 European Championship team. 18-year-old Chiara Rohr and 19-year-olds Jana Walther and Lara Däuble all made their senior national team debuts. All three managed to score during the match, signaling a promising transition for the program’s youth pipeline.
Further roster experimentation included the second-half debut of 24-year-old goalkeeper Laura Kuske from Thüringer HC. The match also marked the return of left back Lara Degenhardt, who last appeared in a DHB jersey in March 2023.
Match Analysis: Overcoming Early Friction
The game did not start with the clinical precision typical of the German first-string squad. Early on, the team struggled with communication and coordination in both the offensive and defensive thirds. This lack of cohesion allowed North Macedonia to remain competitive, avoiding the one-sided nature of the previous encounter between the two nations.
Germany entered the halftime break with a modest 19-14 lead. Nina Engel noted after the match that while the result was positive, the defensive performance—conceding 27 goals—was not perfect and highlighted areas where the young squad still needs to develop “basics” in their coordination.
The dynamic shifted after the second half began. Germany increased its intensity and exploited gaps in the North Macedonian defense with a decisive scoring run. This surge widened the gap significantly, though a late lapse in concentration allowed the hosts to close the final score to 35-27.
Road to the European Championship
The victory keeps Germany’s momentum high as they prepare for the final stages of the qualification cycle. The team will travel to Hamm to face Belgium this coming Sunday to conclude their qualifying campaign.
The broader focus now shifts toward the European Championship finals, which will take place from December 3 to December 20, 2026. The tournament will be hosted jointly by Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Turkey.
For the German squad, the next critical date is April 16, when the official group draw for the finals will take place, determining their path through the tournament.
Key Match Takeaways
- Final Score: Germany 35, North Macedonia 27 (Halftime: 19-14).
- Top Performer: Nina Engel led the scoring with 9 goals.
- Youth Integration: Debut appearances for 2025 U19 European Champions Chiara Rohr, Jana Walther, and Lara Däuble.
- Record: Germany remains undefeated in EM qualification (5 wins in 5 matches).
- Next Step: Match against Belgium in Hamm this Sunday.
Germany will appear to maintain this winning streak in Hamm before the squad integrates its returning veterans for the December finals. Whether the youth debutants from the Skopje match will earn permanent spots in the final tournament roster remains to be seen, but Gaugisch has clearly signaled that the future of German handball is being actively cultivated.
What are your thoughts on Gaugisch’s decision to rotate the squad so heavily? Let us know in the comments or share this story on social media.
