Handball-EM
Austria’s handball players are looking forward to the draw for the home European Championships (November 28th to December 15th) on Thursday (6 p.m., live on ORF Sport +). In the old Vienna Stock Exchange, trainer Monique Tijsterman’s selection, as well as the two co-organizers Hungary and Switzerland, will be drawn from pot two. It is already certain that Red-White-Red will contest the preliminary round in the Innsbruck Olympic Hall.
18.04.2024 00.10
Online since today, 12:10 a.m
In addition to Austria (Group E), Hungary (Debrecen/A) and Switzerland (Basel/D), Montenegro (Debrecen/B), France (Basel/C) and Germany (Innsbruck/F) already know their pools. France and Montenegro are therefore eliminated as possible pot one opponents for the ÖHB women. A duel with defending champion Norway, who recently proved to be an overpowering opponent at the Euro Cup, is still conceivable.
Thanks to their placement in pot two, the Austrians are also spared duels with the strong nations Spain, Hungary or Romania. In the fight for second place, which entitles you to advance to the main round, you have to beat at least two teams from pots 3 and 4 and therefore from the districts of Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Serbia, North Macedonia, Iceland or the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Turkey , Faroe Islands, Portugal, Slovakia.
GEPA/David Bitzan Neoteam boss Tijsterman is about to face the first major event with the ÖHB selection
Six groups of four
The total of 24 teams will be drawn into six groups of four, with two pools each located in Innsbruck, Basel and Debrecen. The top two from preliminary round groups A, B and C will play their main round games in Debrecen, those from groups D, E and F in the Wiener Stadthalle. The 12,000 arena is also the venue for the final weekend.
For Austria’s women, it is the ninth European Championship participation, the first since 2008. At the home tournament, Katarina Pandza and Co. have returned to the international World Cup stage (2021/16, 2023/19) under neo-team boss Monique Tijsterman an increase in sight. However, the first four games under Herbert Müller’s successor were lost against European Championship defending champions Norway (twice), Hungary and Switzerland.
