On Thursday in Munich, Austria’s men were drawn to the strongest possible opponents for the second round of the pre-qualification for the European Championship 2025. In Group E they meet Croatia and Poland, among others. The third opponent is once once more Switzerland. The first two games will take place at the end of August, the others in November and February 2023.
Croatia and Poland are eliminated in the first round of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers. Both nations are regulars at the continental finals and have also qualified for Euro 2022, which takes place from September 1st to 18th. Switzerland has risen with Austria from the first phase of the European Championship pre-qualification.
“It mightn’t be more difficult,” reacted team captain Thomas Klepeisz. “It’s bitter to get such a tough lot as a group winner (of the first round of the pre-qualification, note). We have to make the best of it.”
In the second round twelve teams in three groups of four start. Only the winners and Cyprus as co-hosts of the EM 2025 achieve the “real” qualification. The other eight nations have to advance to the third round of pre-qualification.
