This means that Mykola Bilyk and Co. will have to focus their hopes on the final game against hosts Germany on Sunday (2:10 p.m., live on ORF1). Before that, team boss Ales Pajovic’s team will face Algeria on Saturday (5:30 p.m., live on ORF Sport +, from 5:50 p.m. live on ORF1), who clearly beat the DHB Seven on Thursday with 29:41 (13:16). had to give. The two top teams in the group get a ticket to Paris.
“We were fully motivated and wanted to win this game. Our defense wasn’t that good today. The goalkeeper performance was also not at the same level as at the European Championships. But that’s not just the reason. We scored goals in attack in the first half. That was fine. We had difficulties in the second half because the defense didn’t work well. It was hard. It’s over, now we have to look further towards Algeria,” explained team boss Pajovic in an ORF interview.
GEPA/Witters/TimGroot The Croatian defense made life difficult for Mykola Bilyk and colleagues
Perfect start for Austria
In contrast to the 28:28 against the Croatians at the European Championship, Austria got off to a brilliant start in front of around 11,000 spectators in the ZAG Arena. While the opponent, coached for the first time by former ÖHB team boss Dagur Sigurdsson, acted incorrectly and nervously, the Austrians took advantage of their chances and were 4-1 in the lead after five minutes, and even 5-1 a little later.
Croatia then found its feet both defensively and offensively, came within 4:5 (11th) and now put the Austrians through significantly more trouble. At 9:9 (19th), the eleventh in the European Championship equalized for the first time in a duel with the eighth, although shortly before he had lost defensive specialist Jakov Gojun with a red card after a foul on Janko Bozovic (15th).
GEPA/Witters/TimGroot Tobias Wagner scored four goals against the Croatians
However, Austria demonstrated its newfound self-confidence, remained calm and, being outnumbered, pulled away to 13:11 (23rd). But there was no further progress. The Croatians couldn’t really get under control at the back, while captain Bilyk repeatedly had to take individual actions at the front against what was now a strong defense. That was enough for a 16:16 at the break.
ÖHB weak phase after the break
But after that it happened quickly. Croatia took the lead for the first time with a hit into the empty goal in the 33rd minute. A missed throw and a technical error later, the favorites had increased the lead to 20:17 (34th) within a few moments. Last but not least, goalie Matej Mandic drove Austria to despair in this phase. The opponent’s enthusiasm was somewhat reduced, but the gap remained constant for a long time at two to three goals. Croatia then made the preliminary decision a quarter of an hour before the end, increased it to plus four (25:21) and ultimately confidently brought home the victory.
“We slept through the second half. We lost the ball far too quickly. The Croatians and every top team in the world punish this. They also had a strong defense. So they decide the game for themselves,” explained Bilyk. “Our first half was very, very good. We don’t start the second half well. The Croatians have a lot of quality there, we struggled there. We had little access,” explained Lukas Hutecek.
Olympic qualification tournament in Hanover
Final standings:
Croatia – Austria 35:29 (16:16)
Best throwers in Austria: Bilyk 8, Bozovic 5, Wagner 4
Germany – Algeria 41:29 (16:13)
Schedule: March 14th Germany Algeria 41:29 Croatia
Austria
35:29 16.03. Germany Croatia 2.30 p.m. Algeria
Austria
5.30 p.m. ** 17.03.
Austria
Germany 2:10 p.m. * Croatia Algeria 4:45 p.m
* live in ORF1
** live on ORF Sport +, from 5:50 p.m. on ORF1
Table: 1. Germany 1 1 0 0 41:29 2 2. Croatia 1 1 0 0 35:29 2 3.
Austria
1 0 0 1 29:35 0 4. Algeria 1 0 0 1 29:41 0
Top two win Olympic ticket
2024-03-14 19:13:40
#Handball #Austria #loses #opening #Olympic #qualifying
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