Germany's under-18 men's handball team claimed the European Championship title on Saturday, overwhelming Slovenia 36-27 in the final in Belgrade. Head coach Erik Wudtke's side built a commanding lead, holding a 17-11 advantage at halftime before extending their margin in the second half to secure the nine-goal victory.
The gold-medal squad includes Elvis Kretzschmar and Kalle Gaugisch, while the tournament's All-Star Team featured three German players: Tjorven Knackstedt, Julius Eisend and Malte Elze.
The victory extends a streak of success for Germany's youth handball programs. The country's U20 women won the world championship in early July, while the U19 squad captured last year's European title. On the men's side, both the U17 and U19 teams secured world championship crowns in 2025.