In the 201st international match of an Austrian women’s national team, Latvia, bottom of the World Cup qualifiers, was not a touchstone. Irene Fuhrmann’s team secured their place in the play-offs with an 8-0 (3-0) win in Wiener Neustadt. Sarah Puntigam and Maria Plattner each contributed two goals, Vöcklabruckerin Lisa Kolb (SC Freiburg) convinced with Sturm und Drang. In the 56th minute, the 20-year-old had to be replaced. Franconian Laura Wienroither (Arsenal FC) was not used.
It was the last competitive match before EURO 2022, where a different wind will blow. On July 6 (9 p.m., ORF 1) – i.e. in 84 days – the ÖFB selection will open the tournament in Old Trafford in Manchester, which was sold out with 70,000 spectators, against hosts England.
Preparations are in full swing. “It’s a year full of challenges. It is important to consolidate the processes and to constantly develop ourselves,” said Fuhrmann. The goal for the EURO is very clear: Austria wants to finish Group A of four in the top two and reach the quarter-finals. England are the favourites, but with home advantage they are also under pressure. Northern Ireland, the opponent in Southampton on July 11 (6 p.m., ORF 1), is definitely beatable. That was underpinned on Friday in the 3-1 win in Wiener Neustadt.
The encounter with Norway on July 15 (9 p.m., ORF 1) in Brighton could have the character of a final.
“The anticipation for the EURO is huge. We can achieve a lot as a team. We believe in our strengths,” said Wienroither. Fuhrmann will ask her team to attend three courses in Bad Tatzmannsdorf in the month before the tournament. It starts on June 2nd. On June 12, there will be a reunion with the Danes at test level, who only stopped Austria’s flight at EURO 2017 in the semi-finals. After 120 goalless minutes, Dominik Thalhammer’s charges lost 3-0 on penalties.
The red-white-red team will rehearse against Scotland on June 22nd and in Belgium on the 26th. “In this way we can prepare as best we can for the intensity and pace that awaits us in the finals,” explained Fuhrmann.
Before and during the EURO, the ÖFB entourage will pitch their tents at Pennyhill Park, a hotel set in 50 hectares of parkland in the county of Surrey. By the way, England’s men’s team around Harry Kane also stayed there on the way to the EM final in 2021. If that’s not a good omen …
Source: Nachrichten
