Switzerland face two top teams in EHF EURO Qualification

Two big challenges await the Swiss women's national team in their first two EHF EURO 2014 Qualification matches on 23 and 27 October.

On Wednesday the team, which is coached by Dane Jesper Holmris, face Serbia, fourth ranked at the EHF EURO 2012, on Sunday they play Sweden, eighth ranked at the EHF EURO 2012.

The match against Sweden will be streamed live on handballTV.ch.

While Switzerland therefore will arguably be in the underdogs' role, they have nevertheless shown in recent matches that they can stand their ground against more experienced squads.

In the qualification for the World Championship 2013 they only narrowly lost against Slovakia and they had Ukraine on the edge of defeat in their last EHF EURO qualifier to date in May 2012, losing 25:27 on home court.

There is one newcomer in Holmris' team as the head coach nominated wing player Tatiana Heini for the first time.

The 21-year-old who plays for LC Brühl St. Gallen currently ranks first in the Swiss league's top scorer ranking with 40 goals in seven matches.

Holmris also nominated Flavia Kashani as a replacement for injured Noelle Frey. Still recovering from a hip surgery is Azra Mustatofska.