Cup hit in Graz

Styrian oak about future in the national team

Styrian Thomas Eichberger has had a tough time in goal.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

This will be a real cup battle! HSG Graz and Krems clash in the quarter-finals at Graz Sportpark on Sunday (6pm). Thomas Eichberger will be playing for the visitors. The former Graz handball goalkeeper has had a mixed few months in the rear-view mirror and was recently left out of the national team.

Krems Graz or Krems - who will make it to the Cup Final Four, which will be played in a month's time? The two clubs have already met twice in the HLA: the home side won 29:25 in Krems, while Kramer's side celebrated a 37:31 victory in Graz. "We absolutely want to reach the final four," says Graz boss Michael Schweighofer.

Of course, the Lower Austrians also want to get there. "On paper, we should progress, but Graz recently beat the BT Füchse by a clear margin," says Thomas Eichberger ahead of the clash against his former club. The 30-year-old also knows that his team tends to be a moody diva this season. "We can win against anyone, but we can also lose against anyone. It's probably a mental thing for us. Only if we all pull together can we win a title this year," emphasizes the Upper Styrian, whose contract with the Danube is coming to an end.

In the HLA, Thomas Scherr and his Graz team clearly won their home game against Krems.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The future is still open. "I've had a very mixed season so far, with very good and very bad performances alternating. We've had a shake-up in the team and also changed the defense, which I haven't coped with well," says the "Styrian Oak". There have been no contract negotiations with Krems yet. "I want to know soon what will happen next for me. Everything is currently open, I've also had inquiries from the league."

"Always cost a lot of effort"
His future in the national team is also uncertain. Team boss Ales Pajovic ruled him out in January ahead of the European Championships. "I'd better not say anything about that, just this much: I don't know whether I want to play for the national team in the future if I get called up. I'm a teacher full-time, so it's always taken a lot of effort to make time for the team."