The pressure is on Austria
On Sunday, the German men’s handball team will have to step up to the plate for the second time at the European Championship in Hungary and Slovakia. Nothing less than an early entry into the main round can be the goal. But the opponents will demand everything from the DHB team, because they will be playing Austria. Even if the players know each other well, there is always a certain prestige in these neighbourly duels.
The German team is relatively clearly favoured by the betting providers tested. After the opening match against Belarus, which was not without problems but still won, Alfred Gislason’s team now wants to take the next step towards the main round against the Austrians with a second win in Bratislava.
For Team Austria, on the other hand, the train to the main round could almost have sailed. They should not have allowed themselves a defeat against the Poles and so Austria must score on Sunday, preferably win, in order to avoid dropping out of the preliminary round. However, the odds suggest that the bookmakers are leaning towards a German victory in the clash between Germany and Austria.
If Ales Paujovic’s team is capable of going above and beyond against an opponent, however, it will be against the Germans. The German match against Belarus showed that the DHB men are definitely vulnerable, but nevertheless the betting on the match between Germany and Austria should rather be placed on a successful match of the DHB men.
Germany – Statistics & current form
It is certainly not the best German team that can compete in the European Handball Championship, but Alfred Gislason has never complained about the cancellations and injuries, but trusts the players he has with him in Bratislava. Perhaps a team will grow together there that can go far in the European Championship.
Successful start to the tournament
After all, they also won against the Olympic champions from France in preparation for the tournament. Most recently, there were three victories and even if not everything always worked and the German team had its weak phase, the self-confidence is now high. That’s why we are primarily looking at the odds for a German success between Germany and Austria.
But the Germans had their teething problems against Belarus at the start of the tournament. This was mainly due to the goalkeepers Till Klimpke and Andreas Wolff, who together could only keep out one ball in the first half. Nevertheless, Germany kept up and, after trailing at the break, turned up the heat more and more. In the end, the score was 33-29.
Kai Häfner, who was named Man of the Match and scored nine goals, and Marcel Schiller, who was particularly nerve-racking on penalty kicks, made their mark on the game. Andreas Wolff will now probably start in goal and with the necessary anger in his belly, the veteran will possibly be the usual safe backstop against Austria.
The Germany squad:
Goal: Wolff, Birlehm, Klimpke
Back: Köster, Weber, Ernst, Heymann, Kühn, M’Bengue, Häfner, Steinert
Left Wing: Schiller, Mertens
Right wing: Zerbe, Kastening
Circle: Golla, Wienczek, Kohlbacher
Coach: Gislason
Last matches of Germany:
European Championships Preliminary Round Grp. D
01/14 2022 – Germany 33 – 29 Belarus
Friendlies
01/09 2022 – Germany 35 – 34 France
01/07 2022 – Germany 30 – 26 Switzerland
11/07 2021 – Germany 30 – 32 Portugal
11/05 2021 – Germany 30 – 28 Portugal
Austria – Statistics & current form
The Austrians had travelled to Slovakia with high hopes. Almost as the only team, Team Austria did not have to cope with any injuries or sick players. Ales Paujovic had his desired squad together and with that they should at least reach the main round. Germany were seen as favourites, but Poland and Belarus should be on a par.
Defensive problems
Perhaps it was a problem, though, that the Austrians couldn’t play a single test match before the European Championship. Competitive toughness and confidence are not so much gained in training as in matches. So the hope for a successful tournament was already gone after the first match on Friday against the Poles.
The Austrians were basically behind from the start and the Poles slowly but steadily increased their lead throughout the match. At the break, the Polish team was 17:14 ahead and Team Austria still had hope, but Nikola Bilyk and Co. did not manage to get back into the game decisively in the second period either.
In the end, the Poles won 36:31. Sebastian Frimmel (8) and Fabian Posch (7) at least distinguished themselves in the offensive. However, 36 goals against are too many to defeat an opponent like the Poles. It could possibly look similar on Sunday in the neighbourly duel against the DHB men and that’s why our prediction between Germany and Austria also goes to a German victory.
The squad of Austria:
Goal: Doknic, Häusle, Kaiper
Back: Martinovic, Zeiner, Bilyk, Hermann, Dicker, Hutecek, Bozovic, Zivkovic
Left wing: Frimmel, Damböck
Right wing: Weber, Ranftl
Circle: Posch, Herburger, Wagner
Coach: Paujovic
Last matches of Austria:
European Championships Preliminary Round Grp. D
01/14 2022 – Austria 31 – 36 Poland
Friendlies
11/07 2021 – Czech Republic 30 – 21 Austria
11/05 2021 – Austria 35 – 30 Czech Republic
European Championships Qualification Grp. 2
05/02 2021 – Austria 27 – 23 Bosnia and Herzegovina
04/29 2021 – Estonia 27 – 31 Austria
Germany – Austria Direct comparison / H2H balance
There are not many teams against which the German selection has played more matches than against the Austrians. In total, there are 36 duels to date. The direct comparison is a very clear affair for the German men, who are 31:3 ahead after victories. Another two games ended in a draw.
The Austrians celebrated their last victory in January 2014 at a four-country tournament in Dortmund. After that, however, Germany has already celebrated nine victories in a row against Austria. The last duel was almost exactly a year ago. In the European Championship qualifier, Germany won clearly in Cologne with 34:20.
Germany – Austria tip
Germany have been among the world’s best, or at least among the extended world class, for many years. Austria, it has to be said, is only mediocre internationally. That’s why the DHB men have also won the last nine games against Austria and usually always had a clear lead.
Alfred Gislason’s team also started the European Championship with a win and even if not everything went right, their self-confidence is high. Austria has its back against the wall after the defeat against the Poles.
We assume that the German team will secure their ticket to the main round, while the Austrians will be mathematically eliminated on Sunday. We have no great doubts about a German victory and therefore we play the betting odds on a German handicap win (-5.5) in the match between Germany and Austria.
