Austria's EM hero

Möstl: “The worst game awaits in Ferlach”

Constantin Möstl became Austria's top star in goal at the European Championship in Germany.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Hard goalkeeper Constantin Möstl made a name for himself with Austria's national handball team in January. The 23-year-old made numerous top saves, leading Austria to eighth place. On Saturday (7 p.m.), the "half East Tyrolean" will be the guest in Carinthia with Hard - currently the strongest team in the HLA.

"Ferlach is the worst away game of the season. The long journey is unpleasant. I'll never make friends with the tense arena." At 23, Constantin Möstl is already one of the greats. He was champion with Westwien last year and was celebrated as a hero in the national team at the European Championships in Germany this year. And he is currently leading the second round table with Hard, the first team to beat leaders Schwaz. 

We know about our poor record in Ferlach. The coach made a point of discussing it in the dressing room.

Constantin MÖSTL, Nationalteam-Torhüter

And yet Möstl has been warned about Ferlach, who are strong at home. The Carinthians haven't lost at home to the league leaders since November 23, 2018 (!) - that's 1926 days ago. In between, there have been three draws and one win. "We're aware of the poor record there. The coach has also discussed it in the dressing room," says Möstl.

Möstl and Strießnig close the door
With 106 goals, Ferlach have scored the second-fewest in the four games since the start of the second half of the season. Only Möstl's team is better. "They have two very strong keepers in Strießnig and Konency, and in offense everything revolves around their star Patrik Leban," said Möstl, who will move to Lemgo in the German top league in the summer. "But we are better and will also win - by a narrow one-goal margin."

Ferlach's keeper duo Florian Strießnig and Michal Konecny(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Werner Möstl vs. Ferlach boss Walter Perkounig
Conny grew up in Vienna. As the son of an East Tyrolean woman and his Viennese father Werner Möstl, who was also a handball goalkeeper in the national team in the 90s. And at the same time as Ferlach's chairman Walter Perkounig, of all people.

"Werner challenged me for the position of second team goalkeeper and overtook me," recalls Perkounig. Möstl senior is also said to have been preferred to the Carinthian at Westwien.

Ferlach boss Walter Perkounig(Bild: Kuess)

And on Saturday? Ferlach want to continue their run of success (two wins in a row) against Hard and break their run (nine games without defeat). "We can't let Constantin warm up, we have to be extremely cool in front of goal so that he doesn't get into a flow like he did at the European Championships," says Ferlach goalkeeper Florian Strießnig.

With the exception of Hari Pavlov - who recently played with pain in his left shoulder - everyone is fit.