Austria's handball women: EM-out and the call for a change!

Austria's handball women: EM-out and the call for a change!

Wien, Österreich - The Austrian handball women experienced an unprecedented disaster at the home European Championship. After a nerve-wracking 24:25 defeat against Slovenia on Monday evening, the ÖHB selection is eliminated in the preliminary round. The disappointment is written in the face of the players. Johanna Reichert, an outstanding figure in her attempt for the team with nine goals, spoke of an "emptiness" after the game. "We dreamed of playing in front of our audience in Vienna for months. The fact that it just breaks in front of you is hardly to be put into words," says Reichert. Trainer Monique Tijsterman criticized the achievements of many players and found that not only one or two actors can call up their top form in such a decisive game.

A look at the Swiss handball elite

In the meantime, Tabea Schmid, 19-year-old circuit runner of the Swiss national team, shines during the European Championship in Slovenia. Already referred to as one of the best players, she shows herself aggressive and strong in her appearances. Schmid, who also started training as a secondary school teacher and passionately plays the piano and the flute, ensures a remarkable balance between sport and studies. Her trainer in Ljubljana, Vroni Keller, praised Schmid for her assertiveness and her ability to run the team. Even in the exciting draw against Croatia, despite a painful broken nose, she was a decisive factor.

The final round of the European Championship has now become an organizational nightmare for the Austrian team. The withdrawal from the main round not only means a sporty fiasco, but also limits the number of spectators in the Vienna Stadthalle considerably. Nevertheless, ÖHB general secretary Bernd Rabenseifner assures that fans will continue to experience "world-class trade". The next challenge for the ÖHB team is already in April when the World Cup qualifier is on the program. The pressure is growing, because some players plan to withdraw, while Tijsterman's coaching contract is also being tested according to this challenge. The course for restructuring within the team already seem to be in motion.