Germany announced its final squad of 14 volleyball players for the Men's European Championship. The Bundestteam is among the teams of direct interest to Bulgaria, as Group D crosses with Bulgaria's Group B in the round of 16.
Head coach Massimo Botti made the final selection after the last two control matches against the Netherlands in Potsdam. Before them, the German Volleyball Federation announced a group of 16 players, which had to be reduced to 14 for EuroVolley.
Libero Leonard Graven and middle blocker Karl Möller were left out of the final squad. As already announced, the big star Georg Grozer will also miss the European Championship. However, Johannes Tille and Moritz Karlitzek, who did not participate in the Nations League this summer, are in the team.

Germany's squad for EuroVolley 2026:
Setters: Johannes Tille, Jan Zimmermann
Opposite: Jan Böhme
Outside Hitters: Moritz Reichert, Moritz Karlitzek, Tim Peter, Tobias Brand, Theo Mohwinkel, Erik Röhrs
Middle Blockers: Anton Brehme, Florian Krage-Brehmer, Tobias Krick, Simon Thörwien
Libero: Ruben Schott
It is noteworthy that Botti is going to the European Championship with only one nominal opposite – Jan Böhme, while having as many as six outside hitters. Erik Röhrs is one of the options that give additional variability to the German coach.
Germany concluded its preparation with two victories over the Netherlands in Potsdam. In the second match, the Germans won decisively 3:0 (25:17, 25:18, 25:20). Röhrs was the top scorer with 12 points, Anton Brehme finished with 11, and the returning Karlitzek added 10. Setter Johannes Tille was chosen as the MVP of the match.
Before the matches with the Netherlands, the Bundestteam underwent a significantly tougher test at the tournament in Italy, where they faced Italy, Cuba, and Brazil. It was against the world champion that the Germans recorded the historic set, won 66:64 in 89 minutes. Italy still took the match 3:2 (64:66, 25:22, 23:25, 25:22, 15:12).
Germany will play in Group D in Cluj-Napoca along with France, Turkey, Romania, Switzerland, and Latvia. Botti's team starts on September 10 against Turkey.
The performance of the Germans in the group will also be closely monitored by the Bulgarian staff. Groups B and D cross in the round of 16 – B1 vs D4, B2 vs D3, B3 vs D2, and B4 vs D1, which makes Germany one of Bulgaria's possible opponents in the very first match of the elimination phase in Sofia.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov