Handball World Cup
Austria’s handball women go into their first game at the World Cup in Denmark, Norway and Sweden with hope. An opening win on Wednesday (6 p.m., live on ORF1) in Stavanger against South Korea would already open the door to the main round, and Red-White-Red has legitimate chances against the Asian champions. “I think South Korea is still a slight favorite. But we feel capable of beating such opponents,” said team boss Herbert Müller.
29.11.2023 11.30
Online since today, 11:30 a.m
The South Koreans are, after all, regular guests at World Championships and Olympic Games, and at their peak, the team led by the later Hypo-NÖ player Oh Seong Ok won World Cup gold in 1995. The team has been the ultimate in Asia for 35 years, winning 16 of the previous 19 editions, most recently in 2022. The selection is overseen by Swedish coach Henrik Signell, who previously looked after the women of his home country for four years.
“They play unorthodox, very fast handball,” warned goalkeeper Petra Blazek of an opponent whose squad at club level is almost exclusively based in South Korea. The only exception is star player Ryu Eun Hee, who has been shining in the backcourt of Hungary’s champions Györ since 2021. “We always find it a little more difficult against fast, lively, small players,” added backcourt player Katarina Pandza. “But if we push hard defensively, we can beat them.”
Handball players are hoping for a perfect start to the World Cup
Austria’s handball players start the World Cup in Norway with a duel against South Korea. Even though the Austrians are outsiders, they dream of a perfect start to the World Cup.
“The anticipation is now huge”
For Austria, after the 2021 World Cup, which was completely thrown into disarray by the coronavirus pandemic, it is essentially the first “real” final round after a twelve-year absence. Müller, for example, had to stay at home for Spain 2021 due to illness, and Pandza and Blazek, like other players, were also out, at least for a time. “We don’t want to talk about this World Cup anymore. The anticipation is now huge,” emphasized Blazek, who made her team debut under Müller in 2004.
Of course, anticipation alone will not carry Austria to victory on Wednesday. As a big ace, Blazek emphasized the team’s unity. “We don’t have a star, but we have a good mix of young and experienced players. We have to get over the team,” said the 36-year-old.
TV
Austria games live on ORF1 and ORF SPORT +
Third place necessary for promotion
Together they have their sights set on promotion in preliminary group C, for which at least third place is necessary. If it doesn’t work against South Korea, the final game will be against the blatant outsiders Greenland (Sunday, 6 p.m., live on ORF Sport +), who are taking part in a World Cup for only the second time since 2001. The duel with defending champions and world champions Norway on Friday (8.30 p.m., live on ORF Sport +) will most likely just be a bonus game. The co-hosts are once again considered the hottest contenders for gold.
2023-11-29 10:30:34
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