European Championship opening game as a final: The handball women are aiming for a big hit

In the first match of the home European Championship, the team will face Slovakia in Innsbruck; a win is mandatory to reach the main round

The preparation shouldn’t have gone on much longer. Otherwise it would be Fever boost for the Austrian handball players may have become too violent.

The national team has been excited for months Home EC contrary, the final round was omnipresent and was the focus of every training session. “It’s been tingling for a while now,” admits captain and goalkeeper Petra Blazek in front of the team Opening game in Innsbruck against Slovakia (18 Uhr, live ORF1).

“This home European Championship is a dream come true for us.”

The first match will already point the way for the Austrians. Team leader Monique Tijsterman clearly set the direction and defined promotion to the main round as a major goal.

If the ÖHB team doesn’t want to end up in the group phase at their home tournament, then it is A win against the Slovakians is mandatory.

Monique Tijsterman sees her players equipped for this task. “We are ready” emphasized the Dutchwoman before the first women’s European Championship with red-white-red participation since 2008.

Confidence

The dress rehearsal against Germany on Sunday was particularly encouraging. The Austrians were even in the lead for a short time and in the end they narrowly lost to the favorites 26:28. “The second half in particular was very good,” says team boss Tijsterman.

The Dutchwoman has only been in office since February, but her signature is already unmistakable. The Austrians have been very stable recentlyin preparation for the home European Championship, two victories were celebrated against North Macedonia, and the Austrians also had the upper hand in the duels with Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

Nobody fears that the tension and excitement in front of the home crowd – 3,000 tickets for the opening game against Slovakia in the Innsbruck Olympic Hall were gone on Wednesday – could lead to shaky hands and weak knees.

“We will be excited but use the positive euphoria to our advantage“, says cyclist Josefine Hanfland.

Team spirit

The team spirit should also inspire the EM hosts. “The team has grown extremely together in the last few years,” says Patricia Kovacs.

Die Slovakians are considered outsidersthey are taking part in a European Championship or World Cup finals for only the sixth time. In contrast to the ÖHB team, most of the players are active at home, two even in Austria’s WHA. “They have three or four good players, especially in the backcourt,” said Tijsterman. “We have to fight and stay awake.”

The key to success lies in defense. “We all have to get to this aggressive level and fight Slovakia down,” demands Germany legionnaire Josefine Hanfland.

If the start is successful, then Austria can go into the second match on Saturday against defending champion Norway relaxed and confident. Slovenia is still waiting in the last group game on Monday. Second place is necessary to advance to the main roundthere they would move to the Wiener Stadthalle.