Pressure mounts for Switzerland

On 2 and 4 April 2014 Switzerland and Estonia face in the play-offs for a spot at the second qualification phase for the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland.

While the latter team qualified for this intermediate phase by placing first in a group with Belgium and Ireland in what was the first qualification phase for the EHF EURO 2016, Switzerland have to earn their place in Phase 2 because they were among the three teams ranked bottom at the end of the EHF EURO 2014 Qualification.

Ahead of the double-header Swiss head coach Rolf Braack underlines the importance of the two matches.

"We have respect for our opponents, who have some outstanding individual players such as Mait Patrail and Dener Jaanima in their ranks.

"These matches are of utmost importance for us as we will only play attractive qualifiers, if we are succcesful," Braack said in an interview with the Swiss Handball Federation.

"We have a motto for this match which is 'whoever defends better and converts more easy chances will win.'

"We want to play our high-speed handball for the entire 60 minutes, and we will try to exert pressure on our opponents, backed by our aggressive wall-like 6-0 defence," said Braack.

Switzerland first have to travel to Estonia where both teams will meet in Tallin on 2 April at 20:00 hrs local time, the second leg will then take in St. Gallen on 4 April also at 20:00 hrs local time.

"Away matches always involve a lot of uncertainties, and they are therefore hard to predict.

"We want to get ourselves into a good position for the return leg, and that depends how well we keep Mait Patrail, whom I consider an all-round top class player, as well as his teammate, Dener Jaanima, who is strong in one-on-one situations and a great shooter from the back court, at bay.

"Both recently played very well in the German Bundesliga, but I'm convinced that we have prepared very well for Estonia."