Germany's national handball team has achieved a milestone by qualifying early for the 2026 European Handball Championship, following a decisive 31:26 victory against Austria in Hannover on March 15, 2025. The match drew an audience of over 10,000 spectators and marked a significant improvement from the previous encounter with Austria, which ended in a draw just two days earlier in Vienna.

Marko Grgić emerged as the leading scorer for Germany, contributing seven goals to the team's total.

Since May 2015, the German team has maintained an unbeaten streak in European Championship qualifying matches.

As they prepare for their final qualification matches against Switzerland and Turkey in approximately two months, the team faces ongoing challenges due to the unavailability of players such as Renārs Uščins, Justus Fischer, Jannik Kohlbacher, and playmaker Juri Knorr, who is sidelined once again.

During the match, Germany exhibited an aggressive defensive strategy, taking their first lead at the 14-minute mark with a score of 6:5. The team displayed enhanced defensive tactics compared to their previous game, particularly in managing Austria's center back, Tobias Wagner.

German forwards, including Julian Köster alongside Grgić, effectively capitalized on scoring opportunities, even when facing a numerical disadvantage at certain points in the game.

After halftime, Germany accelerated their lead to 19:14, aided by several turnovers committed by the Austrian side.

Goalkeeper David Späth played a pivotal role in the match, making crucial saves that supported Germany's dominance as they stretched their lead to seven goals at one point, showcasing a significant turnaround from their earlier performance in Vienna.

As the match neared its end, Germany's coaching staff noted some concerns around discipline in the final quarter, citing multiple unnecessary turnovers.

Nonetheless, the substantial lead maintained by the team ensured their victory was not seriously threatened by Austria.