Everyone expects a runaway victory of a similar dimension to the first leg against the pointless bottom team from the Baltic States. In Liepaja, Austria won 8-1 after trailing 1-0.
“We have to deliver first. It also puts a certain amount of pressure on when you have to make sure that the result is as high as possible. We mustn’t take any opponent lightly,” said team manager Irene Fuhrmann.
Three group games before the final billing could perhaps also decide whether the currently second-placed ÖFB selection saves the first of possibly many hurdles on the way to the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The three best runners-up in the group only get into the 2nd play-off round. Two of the three teams that are then successful there buy a final round ticket. The third in the group gets another chance to qualify in the intercontinental elimination round in February 2023. Depending on the setting, one or two victories are needed at the World Cup venue.
Austria has to do without a goal guarantor today: Hoffenheim striker Nicole Billa, who has already scored 42 times in the ÖFB jersey, is missing due to illness. Tottenham legionnaire Viktoria Schnaderbeck is about to make a comeback after surviving the corona infection. “We want to give our fans a lot of goals,” said defender Carina Wenninger.
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Source: Nachrichten
