Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (CDU) personally congratulated the German handball team after their loss in the European Championship final. The federal press office released photos on Sunday evening showing the Chancellor speaking one‑on‑one with coach Alfred Gislason and players Julian Köster, Miro Schluroff and Andreas Wolff. He also posed for a group portrait with the squad.

Merz had travelled to the final in Herning, Denmark, and watched Germany’s match from the honour tribune alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius had already mentioned on Friday that the Chancellor was to be “intensively” briefed on the national team’s games, noting, “I have seen him become very handball‑fanatic in recent days”.