Every competition has its dark horse and Austria played that role surprisingly efficient at the EHF EURO 2024, where they tied their best-ever result, the eighth place, and secured a place in the Olympic Qualification Tournaments via the continental quota, with two places reserved for the best continent at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, Europe.

It was a surprising ascension to greatness for Ales Pajovic’s side, which failed to make the cut for the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship and finished 19th and 26th respectively at their last editions of the world handball flagship competition, Denmark/Germany 2019 and Egypt 2021.

Austria were huge underdogs to make the Olympic Qualification Tournament, but they did it in style, with a fantastic performance at the EHF EURO 2024, where they drew against Croatia and Spain in the preliminary round, eliminating “Los Hispanos” to make it to the main round.

There, Austria held Germany to a draw, but subsequently lost matches against France and Iceland, finishing on the eighth place, but that was enough to secure a place between the 12 teams qualified for the Olympic Qualification Tournament, with Portugal joining them as the seventh-placed side.

Experience is key at this level, especially in a high-pressure environment as the Olympic Qualification Tournament, with three matches in four days, and Austria will have a mountain to climb, especially as they face Germany and Croatia once again, with both sides knowing what they are facing know, especially with a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the line.

Austria have just made their comeback between the elite, as they could return to the Olympic Games for the first time since the first edition when handball was introduced, in 1936, 88 years ago, which would transform Pajovic’s side in the team with the longest drought between two participations in the competition.

However, Austria have plenty of talent at their disposal, especially with their key star, Nikola Bilyk, finally shrugging off niggling injuries and playing at his full potential. Line player Tobias Wagner has also shined at the EHF EURO 2024, while for right wing Robert Weber this might be the last chance to feature at the Olympic Games, as he is 38 years old.

Pajovic’s side is focused on defence and will need more of the same from goalkeeper Constantin Möstl, who made his debut in a major international competition at the EHF EURO 2024 and had 81 saves, the second largest number in the competition, with a fantastic 35 per cent saving efficiency.

Key players: Nikola Bilyk (left back), Robert Weber (right wing), Tobias Wagner (line player)
History at the Olympic Games: 1936: Silver medal
Olympic Qualification Tournament #2 (in Hanover, Germany): Germany, Croatia, Algeria, Austria