Handball players lose in Germany – Diepresse.com
Two days after the draw in Vienna, the ÖHB men set a 26:31 defeat in Hanover and thus the first in the current EM qualification.
Austria's national handball team had to give up in the EM qualification double against Germany. Two days after 26:26 in Vienna, the ÖHB selection on Saturday in Hanover lost in front of over 10,000 spectators with 26:31 (14:16). After the first defeat in the qualification, Ales Pajovic's team remains second behind the Germans now qualified for the European Championship (7). Switzerland (3) and Turkey (0) rank behind it.
The European Championship ticket should still be difficult to take. The final duel with Switzerland in Graz on May 11th will be decisive – the last game under Pajovic at the same time. Before that, Lukas Hutecek and Co. are still guest in Turkey. The respective top two of the eight qualifiers and the four best group thirds qualify for the European Championship finals in January 2026 in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Austria fights at the front and back
After the youngest draw, the Austrians had traveled to Germany in emotional high, while the favorite weakened personally promised improvement. Spielmacher Juri Knorr was still missing at Paris's Olympics, Germany was still improved. The Austrians had to fight for every goal in the attack and did not always act compactly in defense. Constantin Möstl in the housing was not a decisive factor this time, the hosts were better set to circular runner Tobias Wagner. After a 5-1 run by the Germans, Pajovic took a first break, after a time penalty for Sebastian Frimmel, the Germans pulled away to 16:12. The Austrians were able to shorten two goals until the break.
The start of the second 30 minutes went wrong. Germany came into the empty gate against Austria against six against six too slight degrees and extended the lead to seven goals (15:22). Austria was no longer decisive, at least the gap no longer increased. Substitute goalie Leon Bergmann was still able to show parades in the finish. Lukas Herburger ended the game as the best red and white red thrower with five goals, Hutecek and Frimmel each came to four. (APA)
