Handball EM: Austria rises as a group winner

After 32:29 over the Czech Republic and 34:30 against Ukraine, it was the third win in the third game. Two points are therefore taken into the main round. From Thursday in Vienna there will be the top handball players from Croatia, Spain and Germany – a duel with Belarus awaits. It is the third ÖHB entry into the main round after the 2010 European Championship and the 2014 European Championship in Denmark.

If the team of the Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB), which is celebrated by the fans as stormy as in the flawless group phase, much is possible. Against the no-chance North Macedonians, who had been considered “fear opponents”, the team around Captain Nikola Bilyk again presented themselves as a strong collective. In phases the second half led by ten, sometimes even eleven goals. Only when the concentration decreased in the finish, the opponent was allowed to practice cosmetic results.

“That’s incredible. But before the game I said that we were well prepared with the right tactics. We covered the opponent’s important players well, “said Pajovic in an ORF interview.” I would never have believed that we would have ten goals in the game. Respect for my boys. Three games, three wins, always played with heart. It’s incredible. I have no words. Now the super teams are coming. We can enjoy that. When we play at home with 8,000 fans, anything is possible. “

Good start with sensational Eichberger in the gate

Thomas Eichberger started in the Austrian goal against the North Macedonians for the first time. The HSG Graz keeper came for Thomas Bauer in the first two games and had held up well. Once again, Eichberger was in excellent shape, shining with four parades in the first ten minutes. Subsequently, he should become one of the match winners with a world-class performance. Gerald Zeiner, Fabian Posch, Bilyk and Janko Bozovic threw out the 4: 1 lead. The cheering was deafening.

Hundreds of Macedonian fans made a significant contribution to the town hall being a cauldron. And their team also showed their strengths straight away. The axis between top star Kiril Lazarov and the 110 kg district man Stojanche Stoilov worked, the latter scored three times until 4: 4 (7th minute). Austria’s top star Bilyk, who was the best pitcher against the Czech Republic and Ukraine, was covered offensive from the start. Nevertheless, the Kiel legionnaire came to successful degrees.

A strong appearance brings clear breaks

The ÖHB team varied a lot. Pajovic brought in the attack one or two times a seventh field player instead of Eichberger, who again offered a sensational performance. In front of the strong ÖHB goalkeeper, the Austrians acted with a compact 6-0 cover, sometimes with an offensive 5-1 variant. Mittelmann Zeiner used his space at the front, and Posch also had a good match in the circle. Robert Weber, who contributed the goals for 10: 6 (18th), 12: 8 (21st) and 14:10 (25th), was particularly accurate as against Ukraine.

Eichberger was now in top form in the goal, drove the opponent to despair with several spectacular feats. Not least thanks to the unleashed keepers, the Austrians temporarily moved away at 18:10. Only a four-on-six outnumbered host team brought North Macedonia back into the match. Nevertheless, the ÖHB men went on the break with an 18:12 lead.

Quick preliminary decision after changing sides

The second half started again with great “Saves” from Eichberger, by the 34th minute there were already eleven. In the front, Bilyk, Weber, Bozovic and Posch ensured the already decisive 22:13 lead (35th). Because the resistance of the North Macedonians was now broken. Pajovic now changed a lot, procuring the second season. It hardly dropped, also because Eichberger continued to shine and almost every attempt was in the attack.

At 29:19 (48th) the time-honored city hall had long been transformed into a party zone. All Austrian field players were used, almost all of them entered the goal scorers list. Although one or the other sloppiness crept into the general euphoria, a soothing cushion was held. Above all, Eichberger held everything to be held until the end. The fact that the lead still melted was due to downshifts. The grand ascent finally began with the final siren.

Handball European Championship 2020, Group B

Tuesday:

Austria – North Macedonia 32:28 (18:12)

Wiener Stadthalle, 8,000 spectators

ÖHB goals: Weber 7, Bilyk 6, Posch 5, Bozovic 5, Frimmel 3, Zeiner 2, Hutecek 2, Dicker, Wagner

Best thrower in North Macedonia: Stoilov 5

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