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Graz (APA) – The Austrian national men's handball team wants to prove Sunday (4:30 pm / live at the ORF) that she is already one step closer to preparing for the FIFA World Cup. world than last time in net defeat in Norway (31-43). In the second match of the European Cup, the Austrians will receive in Graz another world clbad team with the champion of Europe, world champion in Sweden.
"We are not here yet where we want to be," said Patrekur Johannesson, head of the ÖHB team, on the eve of the duel. You can lose, but you have to learn every game. The team must be ready for the January World Cup in Denmark. "I am confident that we will play Sweden better than Norway," Johannesson said.
In anticipation of the match against Norway, the Austrians focused on the attack. "The defense was without sting, without fire and made his task catastrophic," Johannesson criticized. "We've done it at the training now, we're going to improve that, the attack can make it even better, we have to go to the border." Sweden's style of play is similar to that of the Norwegians.
According to Robert Weber, the very good offensive power of Stjordal was too big a gap. "It has pitilessly punished Norway with its speed game, we are expecting something similar against the Swedes," said the winger, who will face his 160th international match. The mark of 700 goals seems within reach of the 32-year-old athlete with 694 hits for Austria so far.
According to Johannesson goalkeeper Thomas Bauer, who has found a new employer with FC Porto earlier this month, will not be deployed. "He has to find the pace with the club," said the team leader. In addition to the famous Kristian Pilipovic, local hero Thomas Eichberger of HSG Graz will make his international debut.
The new Raiffeisen Sportpark in Graz, inaugurated in early September, will be sold for the first time to nearly 3,000 spectators. On Saturday, only the remaining tickets were available. The ÖHB management welcomes the European Cup, which replaces the qualifications for the 2020 European Home Championship with co-hosts, Norway and Sweden, as well as the champion in title, Spain.
"We are playing against world clbad nations of the highest category, which is extremely important for the team," said athletic director Patrick Fölser. Meetings with the Spaniards are only in April to the program. Before that, it is still the World Cup competition successfully. Fölser: "The European Cup is an ideal preparation."
Before the World Cup, the ÖHB selection meets again between Christmas and New Year in Südstadt. The legionaries will join the team on 2 January in Innsbruck. There is also at the Olympiahalle the last World Cup events against Bahrain (4 January) and Angola (6 January) on the program, before 11 January against Saudi Arabia, the kick off sending the World Cup.
The other opponents of the group in Herning are Chile, Norway favorite and Denmark and Tunisia. The ÖHB objective explained is the promotion of the main tour, reserved for the first three. Because of the many games in a short period of time, you have to be physically fit in January, said Johannesson. At training camp, after Christmas, you have to work mainly on the sports field.
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