By Claus T. Kræmmergård
At the draw for the play-off matches for the women's handball world championship 2003 in Croatia, the crowd was surprised when Austria and Sweden were to play against each other. However, the Austrian coach, Ole Eliasen, believes that Sweden is a manageable task for the Alpine women.

'We usually play well against Sweden because they like to play close to the opponents' defence. The Swedish play fits us well because we are physically very strong', says Ole Eliasen.

However, this spontaneous comment from Ole Eliasen was followed by a reservation.

'A lot depends on whether we still have the team we have today. If the players who we have used at Euro 2002, are still playing, our chances for qualifying are very good', says Ole Eliasen.

However, it is far from certain that Austria will be able to use the same core players in the play-off matches. After Austria's final match against France, a tearful Ausra Fridrikas said that she may have played her last match for the Austrian team.

Players such as Rima Sypkus, Sorina Teodorivic and Natalie Rusnachenko have already turned thirty years while five more players are close to turning thirty. The Austrian team is in for a big generational change and Ole Eliasen has already said that it will be without his participation. When the present Austrian core players stop, he will stop as well.

Right now it does not seem as if there are any up-coming talents in Austria. Therefore, it may very well be many years before Austrian women's handball will regain strength.

It appears that a lot depends on whether Ausra Fridrikas chooses to continue playing for the national team. If she takes off the national jersey definitely, there is a risk that several of the Austrian stars will follow her example. Then the Austrian national team will be without star players and a coach only six months before the crucial play-off matches against Sweden.