Handball heroes from Tyrol: Josefine Hanfland's way to the home euro [embed] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohuao6doqo8 [/embed] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1HDMM5TDU [/embed] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phe7pfhmdju [/embed]

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The anticipation for the upcoming handball euro in Innsbruck tirelessly increases. Josefine Hanfland, the only Tyrolean in the team, emphasizes from her personal perspective how special this event is for her. In conversation, the 28-year-old tells of her career, the challenges of injuries and the significant influence of her homeland on her career.

Josefine Hanfland, who was born in Schwaz, a city with a pronounced handball tradition, describes how she came to handball through her father and her brothers. "On the one hand, the men made the sport big here, on the other hand it was always my wish to step into their footsteps," she says. She did her first career step at Hypo Lower Austria before going to Germany to HSG Blomberg-Lippe in 2015. The decisive change took place in 2019 when the Thuringian HC made it under contract.

setbacks and comeback

Hanfland also speaks openly about the setbacks in their sporting career, especially the two cruciate ligament tears that she suffered. The last one was particularly painful: "I failed for a year and a half and didn't know if I could return. But giving up was not an option for me," said the circuit runner. The thought of being able to play in her home country at the euro gave her the necessary motivation for her comeback.

When the team moves into the Euro district on Thursday, Hanfland expects exciting days in the familiar environment. "Everything started here, friends and family will be there," she says and emphasizes the emotional meaning of this moment. "We hope to inspire fans with our game and to trigger an euphoria similar to the men."

In competition, Austrian women expect strong opponents such as Norway and Slovenia in their preliminary round group. "We are ready to call up our performance and build on what we can do," she adds confidently. The grand finale in Vienna will take place on December 15, which provides additional pressure and at the same time for great anticipation.

Petra Blazek, who has been active in the national team for over 20 years, also shares her expectations for the upcoming home euro. The 37-year-old, who has already played in different countries, speaks of a long dream. "If someone had told me years ago that we once had a home euro, I would have laughed," she says. Her career includes numerous ups and downs, including the highlight in the EHF Champions League final, which she reached in 2008.

Blazek emphasizes the importance of the upcoming championship: "It is not just another challenge, but a huge chance of showing what we can do on home," she explains. For them, too, the path leads over the preliminary round against Slovakia and other strong teams to a possible final.

Claudia Wess: Courage and determination

The 29-year-old Claudia Wess has already played 93 caps and looks optimistically at home euro. "We have to believe in our strengths," she emphasizes and speaks of the challenges that the team has to master in the heavy group. WESS has been associated with handball since childhood and has celebrated numerous successes with Hypo NÖ.

It is particularly proud of the successful qualification for the 2021 World Cup. "Success has shown me that we have to continue to believe in ourselves, even if times are hard," explains Wess. It is aware of the unique meaning of playing in her own country: "It will be emotional. When I think of it, I get goose bumps."

The players look forward to the tournament, which begins on November 24th with a game against Germany. The enthusiasm for handball could be strengthened by her passionate appearances. "Our goal is to inspire many young girls for our sport," added Wess. The whole team is determined to make the home euro an unforgettable experience for itself and the fans.

The entire interview with Josefine Hanfland, Petra Blazek and Claudia Wess is available on YouTube, where they talk more about their experiences and share their expectations for the tournament.