For Austrian handball men, the European Championship in Croatia ended with a clear defeat. In the “final” against vice world champion Norway, the ÖHB selection was defeated on Tuesday in the final match of Group B with 28:39 (14:18) and missed the declared goal of the main round without points. The rejuvenated troop would have had to win against the clear favourite, but in the end it paid apprenticeship money.
Nikola Bilyk, 21-year-old Nikola Bilyk, who had previously lost to Belarus and world champion France, was the best thrower for the last group runner-up, scoring nine goals, and Austria had to play from the 40th minute onward. Both saw the red card within a few seconds, without Janko Bozovic and comebacker Vitas Ziura. Norway, led by youngster Sander Sagosen, on the other hand, secured the second victory and thus continues to be just like the French and Belarusians.
In the attack, Austria started without the last-minute-matched Alexander Hermann, who only came to the field after a good 14 minutes. Five misses alone in the first quarter of an hour and two technical mistakes could not be afforded against the Norwegians. They finished their dry offensive actions – also against a phasewise more offensive defence variant – unerringly and set themselves apart from 2:2 (3rd) in the 16th minute. For the first time ever, the team scored six goals (11:5) in the second minute.
With two parades of the substitute Kristian Pilipovic, as well as goals from Hermann and a nice action of Ziura, the Austrians proved that they had not given up yet. In fact, they fought their way back to three goals (14:17) until just before the halfway point – also because their opponents were between the 24th minute. and 29. No hits in the first minute.
After the break, however, Norway continued steadfastly into the second half of the season, moving up to 22:14 with a quick 4:0 run and had decided the game by then at the latest, and Austria was unable to build up any decisive pressure. Ultimately, the red-white-red was above all credited for his morale. On the other hand, however, coach Patrekur Johannesson’s leadership performance was rudimentary. Only Bilyk was able to do justice to his role, not only because of the best man.
The 40th. In the second minute, the game then received an additional bitter aftertaste within ten seconds of the game by excluding two routine players. First Bozovic had to go with Red, then Ziura was expelled directly from the field; he had defeated an opponent – for the Croatian referees on purpose. The foul also triggers an ad.