Group draw

ÖHB women crash into defending champions at home European Championships

The Austrian women's handball team will face defending champions Norway, Slovenia and Slovakia in Group E at the home European Championships (November 28 to December 15). This was the result of Thursday's draw in Vienna for the tournament, which is being held jointly with Hungary and Switzerland. The red-white-red team of team manager Monique Tijsterman will play their group matches in the Innsbruck Olympic Hall. The possible main round would be played in the Wiener Stadthalle.

"I think every group is tough. I think it's okay with Slovakia and Slovenia," said Tijsterman and set the goal of reaching the main round. However, the first four games under Herbert Müller's successor were lost against their current group opponents Norway (twice), Hungary and Switzerland. They were last defeated by Slovenia 27:32 at the 2023 World Cup. This will be the ÖHB team's ninth appearance at the European Championship, their first since 2008. Katarina Pandza and Co. have their sights set on improving at their home tournament.

The 24 European Championship teams have been drawn into six groups of four, two each will be played in Innsbruck, Debrecen and Basel. The best two nations from preliminary round groups A, B and C will play their main round matches in Debrecen, while those from groups D, E and F will play in Vienna, where the final weekend will also take place.