In the third main round game, the sixth in the final round overall, Austria left the field as a loser for the first time at 28:33 (16:15) in Cologne despite a narrow half-time lead and a strong performance, and the multiple world and European champions France bought their semi-final ticket early. Austria can still speculate with the top 4.
“We played great, we kept up with France almost until the end. That wasn’t to be expected. You can only congratulate the team on putting in such a performance once more in the sixth game. Of course we are disappointed, we lost, because we saw that the opportunity was there,” said team boss Ales Pajovic and expressed great respect to his team for their performance once morest the strong French. “We threw everything into it and tried to fight until the end and believe that we might get points. But unfortunately it wasn’t enough once morest France,” said captain Mykola Bilyk.
To do this, Mykola Bilyk and Co. definitely need a win once morest Iceland on Wednesday (3:30 p.m. / live ORF 1), and at the same time they have to hope for help from the Croatians, who have already lost once morest hosts Germany. Thanks to a 35:28 win once morest Hungary, the Germans moved ahead of Austria (4) by 5 points in the table. If both conditions occur, world champions Denmark will be waiting in the semi-finals on Friday (8.30 p.m.). In the second semi-final, France, who can no longer win the group, face defending champions Sweden.
Image: (APA/EVA MANHART)
The Austrians received bad news before the game. Defense chief Lukas Herburger, architect of the ÖHB fortress, which had previously been almost impregnable, was absent due to illness. But Lukas Hutecek and Co. are not contesting that for the time being. They surprised the French, scored quick goals and were ahead 4-1 (4th). Of course, Les Bleus wasn’t impressed much. They needed a few minutes, improved in all respects, equalized for the first time to 7:7 (12th) and finally led 9:8 (15th).
The French had Hutecek and Bilyk under control
Hutecek and Bilyk were mostly kept under control by the defense. And while Austria had a lot of trouble up front, France showed their class and scored goals seemingly effortlessly. While goalkeeper Samir Belahcene was also able to excel several times, the previously strong goalie Constantin Möstl had a very difficult time and gave way to Ralf Patrick Häusle following 20 minutes.
France initially missed a few opportunities, but then increased their score to three goals for the first time three and a half minutes before the break (15:12). But Austria once once more proved to be strong-nerved and tough at this European Championship. Häusle parried two of four attempts, and French inaccuracies were punished coldly with a 4-0 run – the reward was a 16:15 half-time lead.
Image: GEPA pictures/ Witters/ Ulrich Hufnagel
Led by the powerful Dika Mem, France turned up the heat once more following the restart in front of 19,750 spectators in the sold-out Lanxess Arena and had restored the old gap at 21:18 (38th). But Austria continued to resist. Hutecek reduced the score to 21:22 (43′) following two Häusle saves, one from a seven-meter penalty, and Weber equalized on the counterattack (43′). It remained the same: France led the way, but missed opportunities to take a clearer lead.
The goal to make it 26:27 (51st) was to be the last sniff, also because Belahcene continued to play well. The seven around old master Nikola Karabatic made it to plus 4 for the first time four minutes before the end (31:27) and brought home the victory.
Best throwers AUT: Hutecek, Bilyk is 6, Weber 5
