Denmark have recently won four consecutive world championships, but it has been a while since they won a European Championship title. In 2008 and 2012, the Danes were number one on the continent. After 14 years, the EHF EURO, which will only feature home games, should finally bring them gold again. Six current SG Flensburg-Handewitt players are to help realize the big goal.
At the end of January 2012, SG legends Anders Eggert, Lasse Svan and Thomas Mogensen returned from Belgrade with gold medals. Shortly before, they had beaten Serbia with the Danish national team to win the European Championships. It was the second continental title for the Danebrog team after 2008 - and the last to date. Since then, the Danes have won the World Championship four times and even become Olympic champions twice, but they have not been number one on the mother continent of handball since then. A new generation of Danish handball players is now determined to end this drought. "There will be a lot of motivation to make it this time," says Simon Pytlick, who stepped onto the European Championship stage for the first time in 2024. "We should have won two years ago, but France were better in extra time." Back then, the Danes played in Munich and Cologne, now they are in Herning all the time. "A home European Championship is always something special, especially because of the fans behind us," says a delighted Kevin Møller. "The atmosphere in the hall will be incredible, which will give us extra motivation."
Plenty of SG power at Danish Dynamite
SG will be represented by a sizeable delegation within the Danish team. In addition to Kevin Møller and Simon Pytlick, Emil Jakobsen, Lukas Jørgensen and Niclas Kirkeløkke have once again been nominated. And Lasse Møller is about to compete in his first European Championship. "It's an incredible feeling," says the backcourt ace. "I can hardly wait to get on the floor and represent the Danish flag at a European Championship." National coach Nikolaj Jacobsen put together his 19-man squad shortly after the New Year. This included four former SG players in Johan Hansen, Simon Hald, Mads Mensah and Rasmus Lauge. And circle player Emil Bergholt will join the SG in the summer.
From preparation to the tournament
These days, it's all about the transition from club mode to the national team. Some players are now slipping into a different role. Niclas Kirkeløkke, for example, is still a half-back as usual, but has moved to the right wing in attack because of top star Mathias Gidsel. "That changes my movements and my responsibility in the game," explains the SG left-back. "At the same time, my experience at the club is helping me a lot to find my feet in this new role." The opponents in the preliminary round are North Macedonia (January 16), Romania (January 18) and Portugal (January 20). "We have respect for every opponent, but the toughest opponent will probably be Portugal," believes Lasse Møller. "The Portuguese beat Germany in the quarter-finals at the last World Cup." France, Germany or Norway are likely to be the opponents in the main round. "Our focus will be on approaching every game with full energy and playing our style," explains Kevin Møller. "We have to be ready for any challenge." If the concept works, it will be the third ever final in Herning with Danish participation. In 2014, France shocked the hosts. In 2019, the Danes started their impressive World Cup series in Herning.
