With less than 45 days remaining until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the 24 men’s and women’s teams are feeling the pressure as they finalize their preparations. The teams are working through the final stages of preparation before the competition, which will be held at the South Paris Arena 6 and the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille during the knockout phase.
Coaches are making tough decisions as they choose provisional rosters, which can include up to 17 players with three alternates. These rosters will be refined closer to the start of the Games. Unlike World Championships, the IOC imposes limits on the number of athletes, but the IHF has successfully increased the number of alternate players from one to three. These alternates can replace injured or ill athletes, but the replaced athletes cannot return to the competition.
Reigning Olympic champions France have announced a roster of 21 players, with the first training camp starting in Tignes on June 20. The roster includes notable players like Ludovic Fabregas and Nikola Karabatic, who will retire after the Games.
World champions Denmark have named 20 players, including Mikkel Hansen and Mathias Gidsel. Coach Nikolaj Jacobsen emphasizes the challenge of managing a limited roster across potentially eight matches in 16 days.
Spain has included veterans such as Joan Canellas and Antonio Garcia, while Sweden, a gold medal contender, features experienced players like Jim Gottfridsson and Andreas Palicka. Coach Glenn Solberg expresses confidence in their ability to compete for medals.
Germany, having finished fourth at the EHF EURO 2024, has made minor adjustments to its roster. Argentina and Japan have also announced their provisional teams, with Japan’s new coach Carlos Ortega leading the squad after winning the EHF Champions League with Barça.
Here are the provisional rosters for some of the teams:
**Denmark:**
Goalkeepers: Niklas Landin, Emil Nielsen, Kevin Møller
Wings: Emil Jakobsen, Magnus Landin, Niclas Kirkeløkke, Hans Lindberg
Backs: Mikkel Hansen, Simon Pytlick, Rasmus Lauge, Mads Mensah Larsen, Thomas Arnoldsen, Lasse Andersson, Mathias Gidsel, Mads Hoxer
Line players: Magnus Saugstrup, Simon Hald, Emil Bergholt, Lukas Jørgensen, Henrik Møllgaard
**Spain:**
Goalkeepers: Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, Rodrigo Corrales, Sergey Hernández
Wings: Ferran Solé, Aleix Gómez, Kauldi Odriozola, Angel Fernández, Miguel Sánchez-Migallón, Daniel Fernández
Backs: Álex Dujshebaev, Ian Tarrafeta, Petar Cikusa, Joan Cañellas, Agustín Casado, Antonio García, Daniel Dujshebaev, Jorge Maqueda, Imanol Garciandía
Line players: Abel Serdio, Gedeón Guardiola, Javier Rodríguez
**Sweden:**
Goalkeepers: Andreas Palicka, Tobias Thulin, Mikael Appelgren
Wings: Hampus Wanne, Lucas Pellas, Daniel Pettersson, Sebastian Karlsson
Backs: Jonathan Carlsbogård, Karl Wallinius, Felix Claar, Jim Gottfridsson, Jonathan Edvardsson, Albin Lagergren, Lukas Sandell
Line players: Max Darj, Oscar Bergendahl, Andreas Nilsson
**Germany:**
Goalkeepers: Andreas Wolff, David Späth, Joel Birlehm
Wings: Lukas Mertens, Rune Dahmke, Christoph Steinert, Tim Hornke
Backs: Juri Knorr, Luca Witzke, Marian Michalczik, Julian Köster, Marko Grgic, Renars Uscins, Franz Semper
Line players: Johannes Golla, Justus Fischer, Jannik Kohlbacher
**Japan:**
Goalkeepers: Motoki Sakai, Takumi Nakamura, Daisuke Okamoto
Wings: Hiroki Motoki, Naoki Sugioka, Goki Koshio, Tomoya Sakurai
Backs: Jin Watanabe, Tatsuki Yoshino, Shinnosuke Tokuda, Kozaru Mizumachi, Adam Yuki Baig, Kosuke Yasuhira, Naoki Fujisaka, Yuto Agarie
Line players: Kenya Kasahara, Hiroyasu Tamagawa, Sota Takano, Shuichi Yoshida
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