Eleven legionnaires

Austria’s 18-strong squad for home European Championships is set

Sonja Frey is also on the team.(Bild: GEPA)

Handball team boss Monique Tijsterman named her 18-strong squad for the upcoming European Women's Championship in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland on Tuesday. The ÖHB team will start the tournament with its best line-up. 

A total of eleven legionnaires are in the squad, and six players from Hypo Niederösterreich's domestic league have been named. The final preparations will begin on November 18, and Austria will start the EURO on November 28 against Slovakia.

"Big step forward"
Other opponents in the preliminary round group played in Innsbruck are title favorites Norway and Slovenia. Austria's goal is to advance to the main round, which will be held in Vienna. "We've worked well in the various training courses leading up to the EURO and have taken a big step forward. Now it's just a matter of fine-tuning," explained Tijsterman in an ÖHB statement. The last European Championship test will take place on November 24th in Innsbruck against Germany.

There is still a question mark over Antonija Mamic's participation due to a thigh injury. Nina Tilliacher from the MGA Fivers will replace the goalkeeper for the time being. The backcourt is made up of Kristina Dramac, Sonja Frey, Ines Ivancok-Soltic, Patricia Kovacs, Katarina Pandza, Ana Pandza, Johanna Reichert and Klara Schlegel. Mirela Dedic, Santina Sabatnig, Fabienne Tomasini and Claudia Wess play on the grand piano, Josefine Hanfland, Stefanie Kaiser and Nora Leitner on the circle. Petra Blazek and Lena Ivancok are in goal.