Born in 1957 in Bad Kreuznach, Emrich began playing club handball at the age of 21 and then spent the next ten years plying in the German first division for clubs such as Frisch Auf Göppingen and TuS Hofweier and also had his place in the German national team, before becoming a coach in 1982 when he began coaching TuS Schutterwald. His career includes coaching Germany youth and men´s national teams as well as the Swiss national team. Since 1998, Emrich has coached SG Wallau/Massenheim. He took over as the head coach for the women´s national team in February 2005 and at the 2007 World Championship in France, team Germany picked up second World Championship bronze medal, 10 years after their last WC medal.

Coach comment

”After the Olympic Games in Beijing we focus on the EURO 2008. In the last two months before the tournament we are going to play several test matches on a high level. For example we will compete with France to be well prepared for the EURO. We expect a tough preliminary round; nevertheless, FYR Macedonia should be a step ahead after going out of the Olympic tournament at an early stage. At the EURO everything is possible with so many world-class selections. This is the toughest tournament - but we will be ready with a good team with both young and experienced players.”

In addition to being named handball player of the year for three consecutive years, in 2006 Grit Jurack along with her bronze medal, collected the accolade of top scorer in 2007 at the World Championship in France. With over 20 years of handball experience behind her, Grit signed to her current club, Viborg HK, four years ago and has had the joy of being the Danish champion in the national league and even got to lift the Champions League Trophy in 2006. Altogether, since her international debut in 1996, she has had eight club competition victories in both Germany and Denmark.

Born in 1982 the left back transferred to FC Kopenhagen Håndbold in 2007 after spending six years with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. It was against Romania in 1999, that Nadine first wore her national colours and in 150 matches she has scored 622 goals. This will be the third European Championship for Krause and she hopes that it will be third time lucky for the team Germany, who have not picked up a medal at the Women´s EURO since 1994. Krause refuses to underestimate any team, as she knows that no match is won until the final whistle blows.

Born in 1981, Sabine started playing handball at the age of five. TuSpo Obernburg was the first club to sign her, she then moved to TGS Walldorf, TV 05 Mainzlar and TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In 2007, she moved to Austria to play with the renowned Hypo Niederösterreich. In 2005 with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen she won the Challenge Cup, in 2007, she earned her first World championship Bronze and her latest victory came with Hypo Niederösterreich, when the team won the Austrian Championship. In 2001, Sabine took part in her first international match against Denmark and has played a total of 144 matches wearing her national colours.