Germany

Men Women

2013 was yet another great year for Germany, the 2006 World Champions. Building on an incredible 2012 which saw the side become Olympic Champions for the second time in succession, the team coached by Markus Weise powered to glory at the TriFinance EuroHockey Nations continental championships before taking a first place finish at the Hockey World League Semi-Final in Johor Bahru. As well as this, the under-21 team produced a string of sensational performances to win the Hero Hockey Junior World Cup in New Delhi (IND), providing plenty of evidence that the European giants are likely to remain a global force for many years to come. At the start of 2014, a weakened Germany team could only manage a disappointing 7th place finish at the Hero Hockey World League Final in New Delhi, India. However, you can be certain that the Olympic Gold medallists will be back to their very best in The Hague. The 18-player squad named for the event contains some of the game's most gifted players, including sensational strikers Christopher Zeller and Florian Fuchs as well as world class defenders Max Müller and Martin Häner. Another player worth noting is 20-year-old Christopher Rühr, an explosive game-changer who netted nine goals at the Junior World Cup before being named 2013 FIH Young Player of the Year. Sadly, the Hockey World Cup has arrived too soon for 2012 FIH Player of the Year Moritiz Fürste, who misses the event after failing to sufficiently recover from a cruciate ligament injury sustained in March. However, two other injury hit players have made the squad, with Oliver Korn and Tobias Hauke both being named. Korn has recovered from an appendix operation in February, while 2013 FIH Player of the Year Hauke is likely to play the event wearing a protective mask after suffering a facial injury in training.

Best World Cup results:
Gold in 1978 (Buenos Aires), 2002 (Kuala Lumpur) and 2006 (Mönchengladbach).

They have taken part in 12 previous Wold Cups.

FIH World Ranking:
1st

News:
28-04-2014: Moritz Furste recovering well
30-03-2014: Meet Tobias Hauke
25-03-2014: German preparations on schedule
24-03-2014: This is: Germany!
06-03-2014: Mortiz Furste to miss World Cup
04-07-2013: German and English men qualify

Team

1 Nicolas Jacobi

3 Linus Butt

4 Maximilian Müller

6 Martin Häner

8 Mats Grambusch

10 Christopher Wesley

13 Tobias Hauke

14 Jan Philipp Rabente

15 Benjamin Wess

16 Pilt Arnold

17 Christopher Rühr

18 Oliver Korn

19 Christopher Zeller

20 Martin Zwicker

23 Florian Fuchs

24 Benedikt Fürk

26 Thilo Stralkowski

30 Felix Reuss

Staff

Head Coach - Markus Weise

Assistant Coach - Michael McCann

Team Manager - Jochen Heimpel

Stand-In Manager - Frederick Merz

Team Doctor - Wilhelm Widenmayer

Physiotherapist - Andreas Papenfuß

Following the retirement of legendary striker Natascha Keller at the end of the London 2012 Olympics, many wondered how “Die Danas” would cope without their Olympic Gold medal-winning superstar. However, if the last 18 months are anything to go by, the post-Keller era is shaping up to be something very special indeed. In June 2013, the team coached by former Germany men’s international Jamilon Mülders produced a string of sensational performances at the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final tournament in Rotterdam, powering through to the event final with four straight victories before defeating host nation and reigning Olympic Champions the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Two months later, the team proved that their return to form was no fluke by storming to the TriFinance EuroHockey Nations title, defeating England to claim the Gold medal. The side suffered a slight dip in form at the Argentina Hockey World League Final in San Miguel de Tucumán where they could only manage an seventh place finish in searing temperatures, but you can be sure that they will be 100 percent on their game in The Hague. Although the Germany team has plenty of exciting young players such as Marie Mävers, Kristina Hillmann as well as teenagers Anne Schröder and Hannah Gablac, there is also a huge amount of experience within this squad. Eight players have surpassed 100 international caps, among which the influential trio of Tina Bachmann, Maike Stöckel and team captain Julia Müller have each moved past the 200 cap marker.

Best World Cup results:
Die Danas have won gold two times; 1976 (West-Berlijn) and 1981 (Buenos Aires)

They have taken part in 12 previous Wold Cups.

FIH World Ranking:
6th

News:
22-04-2014: Final squad Die Danas announced
24-03-2014: This is: Germany!
22-06-2013: German women win Round 3 of the Hockey World League in Rotterdam
20-06-2013: German women's team qualifies