20.03.2013, 11:47
Confidence rules in the Austrian camp

A slogan, borrowed from US elections, shall carry the national team to a win against Serbia

Confidence rules in the Austrian camp

Austria's men's national team goes into the EHF EURO 2014 qualification matches against Serbia (3 and 7 April) with a 'Yes, we can'-mentality, hoping that they will be able to beat the EHF EURO 2012 silver medallists once more.

In the preliminary round of EHF EURO 2010 on home soil, Austria beat Serbia 37:31 securing themselves a berth in the main round while Serbia had to return home empty-handed.

However, much has changed in the past three years, and Serbian head coach, Veselin Vukovic, is likely to send a star-studded team to Austria.

The current head-to-head statistics show one win Austria and two for Serbia in three matches overall. At the 2013 World Championship Serbia lost in the last 16 against Spain who then went on to win the title.

"Serbia are a top team that includes superb players such as (Momir) Ilic and (Zarko) Sesum," Austria's head coach, Patrekur Jóhannesson, said.

"Of course, I watched the Serbian matches at the World Championship, at the Olympic Games and their two encounters in the current EHF EURO qualification and without doubt they belong to the world class teams in Europe.

"However, we know that we have a chance if everyone gives 100 per cent. From the very beginning it was our plan to win all our matches at home. And this has not changed."

Currently Serbia top Group 7 with two wins from two matches. Austria and Russia have won and lost one match each, while Bosnia and Herzegovina still wait for their first point in this group.

"We knew beforehand that this group would be a very strong and difficult one," Jóhannesson said.

The Austrian Handball Federation has released a video to get the team and its fans in the right mood ahead of the home match against Serbia on 3 April.

It starts with scenes depicting Austria's win against Serbia three years ago at the EHF EURO 2010 and ends with the slogan US President, Barack Obama, used during his first election campaign: "Yes, we can".

TEXT: EHF / ÖHB / ts