Former European Champion Marc Zwiebler is leading the German team for a last time. And the Germans began the tournament with a solid performance.

In the first men’s single Marc Zwiebler, who is playing his testimonial in late February, had no problems beating Kari Gunnarsson from Iceland 21-10 21-10.

LIVESTREAM: 2018 EUROPEAN MEN’S & WOMEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

A solid German performance in the opening tie brings Germany in the lead of the group winning 5-0.

Want to be a role model
it is the last night with the gang for the former world number 10, and he is happy, that he can be part of the German team for one last time.

See all the results from the 2018 European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships here

- I have been looking forward to this the last couple of months. I am not part of the national team anymore, so I don’t practice so much, but it is good to be back. I am ten years older than the others. I was lacking a role model, when I was younger. I had no one in Germany to look up to, so I am happy to help, Zwiebler tells Badminton Europe.

- Our plan was, that I should play the third singles, but we haven’t had much luck with injuries, so now I have to lead the team off but also on court.

Watch the interview with Marc Zwiebler here