Two months before a record match: the national handball team rehearses the emergency of the European Championship

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On January 10, our handball team will meet Germany at the start of the European Championships in Düsseldorf (D). And this in front of 50,000 spectators. The match in front of a record crowd against the largest handball country in the world will be an exceptional event for the Swiss association.

And something like this casts its shadow: this week the national team will travel with a full band to Tunisia for three international test matches. This is notable as players have already skipped such international match dates to recover from minor injuries from the first few months of the season.

Now national coach Michael Suter (48) can utilize the full potential. Only the recovering Nicolas Raemy (31) is missing from the predicted European Championship selection. “I am happy that all the top players are fit and I am convinced that with the games in November we can lay a successful foundation for the Euro campaign in January,” says Suter.

In addition to team leader Andy Schmid (40), there are nine Bundesliga professionals in the selection, including Manuel Zehnder (24), the current top scorer. It is the core that Suter has relied on for years. A battle for the European Championship places is not expected.

Instead, from Thursday in Hammamet (about 300 km from the capital Tunis) the national team can simulate a European Championship emergency with three games in three days against Portugal, Austria and Tunisia. “We look forward to three exciting comparisons with strong opponents,” said Suter. The Swiss in particular can sing a song about the strength of the Portuguese since their two major defeats in World Cup qualifying last year.

For Suter, they are exactly the right preparation opponents: “The anticipation for the European Championships in January and especially the world record game is increasing. Now we use the joint training to approach the European Championship level step by step.” The final tests are scheduled for the beginning of January as part of the Yellow Cup in Winterthur.

To get out of the provisional group at the European Championships, at least one exploit will be needed: either in the record match against host country Germany, or four days later in Berlin against co-favourites for gold France.

For Michael Suter, these are his last performances on the big stage for the time being. In the summer he will make way for successor Andy Schmid. Suter will then continue in St. Gallen, where as coach and sports director he wants to lead the traditional Otmar club back to the national top.

Source : Blick