Germany Handball WM 2027: Competition for roster spots intensifies
A crate of Spezi stands as the currency of choice for David Móré in the Berlin Uber Arena, where the left wing from ThSV Eisenach celebrated his debut for the German national team with four goals from four attempts during a 42:32 victory over Belgium.
That opening European Championship qualifier marked the official starting gun for the intense battle for roster spots ahead of the World Men’s Handball Championship taking place in Germany from January 13 to January 31, 2027. National coach Alfred Gislason acknowledged the competitive atmosphere following the match, stating that the competition within the squad is fierce despite a very positive team dynamic. The competition within our team is fierce, even though the atmosphere is very positive.
said Alfred Gislason, Handball-Bundestrainer. Móré expressed his ambitions for the tournament, stating, I’d be super up for it!
The Open Race on the Left Wing
The battle for the left wing remains the most pressing puzzle for Gislason to solve before finalizing his roster before Christmas. Tim Freihöfer of Füchses Berlin appears locked into a secure position, leaving the remaining depth chart wide open. While Móré delivered a strong scoring night, moments of understandable hesitation showed during his first international appearance in front of more than 12,000 spectators, such as when he opted for a short pass instead of driving a fast break. Experienced alternatives loom large in the form of Magdeburg players Matthias Musche and Lukas Mertens. With the appearance in Slovakia on Sunday at 18:00 on Dyn and sportschau.de, only one further international match remains.
Gislason admitted that the left-handed backcourt remains narrowly stocked, leaving the door open for tactical adjustments or alternative personnel.
Evaluating Backcourt Options and Tactical Shifts
Niklas Theiß of HSG Wetzlar also made his national team debut against Belgium, contributing smart decisions from the right back position. Yet Theiß carries the heavy handicap of battling a deep Bundesliga relegation struggle, with Wetzlar remaining winless after eleven matches. Gislason praised the newcomer’s performance but noted that evaluation continues regarding how he handles elite international opponents. We still have a few games left in the league,
noted Niklas Theiß after the match against Belgium.
Should the coaching staff require further creativity on the right side, playmaker Nils Lichtlein serves as an option pending successful recovery, or Gislason may utilize three right-handed players simultaneously. During the Belgium match, Flensburg’s Marko Grgic saw brief minutes in the right back slot as part of tactical testing. Additional formations, including an attack featuring a seventh outfield player, remain under consideration for the upcoming match in Slovakia.
Integrating those tactical variations permanently into the tournament plan will likely necessitate naming a third circle runner to the squad. Jannik Kohlbacher of the Rhein-Neckar Löwen stands as the prime candidate for that role, having sat out the recent fixture due to a suspension carrying over from the 2026 European Championship final. Meanwhile, Gislason carried three goalkeepers during the current training week—a setup he does not plan to maintain for the tournament itself. Once third-string netminder Lasse Ludwig drops from the final selection, an additional roster spot will open for a field player.
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