Handball, schnitzel and the Alps

One could argue the point that two weeks before the Men’s 20 EHF EURO starts in Austria it is all about handball and nothing but handball for the 16 participating teams.

However, in order to distract the players’ minds from training camps and test matches the Austrian Handball Federation as the event’s organising federation has made the effort of asking their young talents several off-the-court questions referring to dreams, changing room secrets and team rituals.

"I have to clean the balls because I came too late to a training session," reveals WAT Margareten Fivers player, Tobias Wagner.

It is a duty he shares with his teammate Julian Schiffleitner who did not make it on time to a training session either and therefore has to carry the balls.

With two weeks to go until their first match against Belarus, Austria not only have the time to prepare as best as possible for their opponents – Slovakia and Germany being the other two in Group C – but also to come up with a team ritual. “We don’t have any yet,” says Lukas Herburger who plays for HC Hard. “But I think we have to come up with some funny rituals.”

One thing they have come up with is the right music played in the changing room to get them in the mood ahead of matches.

"We listen to House," says Tobias Wagner. "If someone doesn’t like House, he has to use earphones."

And apart from the Men’s 20 EHF EURO, Austria players also reveal what the other fifteen can expect when they come to Austria.

"Skiing, Wiener Schnitzel and beautiful landscape," are the first three things that come to Daniel Dicker’s mind when thinking about his home country.

His teammate Florian Reisinger, who will enjoy a true home tournament as he plays for HC Linz AG, agrees: "Home country, the Alps and schnitzel," he says.

Tournament information

The Men’s 20 EHF EURO takes place in the Austrian cities of Linz and Traun from 24 July to 3 August 2014. For more information visit the official website and the event’s Facebook page.

Over the next two weeks and during the tournament eurohandball.com and the EHF EURO Facebook page will also feature regular reports, features and photo galleries.

Austria also hosted the Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2012 when the same generation of players took to the court. Back then Germany won, Sweden came second and Denmark placed third. Austria finished sixth.

The previous Men’s 20 EHF EURO took place in Turkey in 2012. Spain won ahead of Croatia and Slovenia. Austria had not qualified.

Photos: David Robinson / Red Bull