The World Cup in Egypt is getting closer and closer for Austria’s handball men. However, there is no time for testing, the European Championship qualifying match against Germany is already waiting in Cologne on Sunday (6.10 p.m.). Four days after the clear 27:36 defeat in the “first leg” in Graz, it is the dress rehearsal of the ÖHB selection that will start the final round on Thursday with the game against the underdog USA. Last but not least, team boss Ales Pajovic is aiming for an improved defensive performance.
“We can’t let our heads hang now”, said captain Gerald Zeiner after the game in Graz, after all, apart from the result, not everything was bad: some nice offensive actions, for example, and on the right side an almost unleashed Boris Zivkovic, so far only second choice behind the currently injured Janko Bozovic. “That surprised me a bit because he hasn’t played much for me and has often had injury problems at the club,” said Pajovic.
The Slovenian found the biggest shortcoming in the defense and in too many technical errors. “You can’t win against Germany like that,” he said. Accordingly, the training focused on the defensive, where it is important to find a competitive middle block until the World Cup. That part of the team that needs a lot of fine-tuning to function. “I’m still looking for a bit,” explained Pajovic.
The fact that the outstanding man is absent after his cruciate ligament rupture, in addition to Bozovic or district veteran Fabian Posch with captain Nikola Bilyk, could not be overlooked in Graz. “Of course we miss him,” said Pajovic, who primarily identified “opportunities and potential” in the current situation. “But that will take a while.”
Currently they are in the European Championship qualification with 2 points from 2 games behind the Germans (3 games / 6 points) in second place with Estonia (3/2), Bosnia (2/0) is at the bottom. A success against Germany is not absolutely necessary, second place, possibly third place would be enough for the Austrians for a ticket to the final.
In any case, the focus is already on the World Cup, where the opening game against the great unknown USA will probably decide on success or failure at the eighth major event within twelve years. With a win, third place and the main round promotion would probably be secured, against the other preliminary round opponents, Vice World Champion Norway and the multiple World and European Champion France, the grapes in the current composition are likely to be a little too high.
(WHAT)
Article picture: GEPA
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