Austria’s soccer team striker Lisa Kolb should have boarded the plane to London-Gatwick with her colleagues in Vienna-Schwechat on Thursday and completed the first training today at the EURO base camp “Pennyhill Park” near Bagshot, but nothing came of it. In the case of the 21-year-old from Vöcklabruck, who plays for SC Freiburg in the German Bundesliga, the traffic light switched to red during the rapid antigen test.
The PCR result was also positive, Kolb complained of mild symptoms, but she feels better. Nevertheless, the preparation for the opening match on Wednesday (9 p.m., ORF 1) in Manchester against England will be a nail-biter. The corona pandemic is affecting the tournament even before kick-off, and other teams are also complaining about positive test results.
Training without a captain
“It is of course a setback for us that, despite all the precautionary measures, we have to specify a player and a supervisor (physiotherapist Reinhard Wögerbauer, note) upon arrival,” said ÖFB team boss Irene Fuhrmann.
With wise foresight, the 41-year-old brought Virginia Kirchberger and Annabel Schasching on board as additions to the 23-woman squad, both of whom could now play a bigger role than they were originally intended. Should Kolb fail, Schasching, the 19-year-old captain of SK Sturm, would be the logical replacement due to her offensive position. The midfield director from St. Aegidi has recommended herself as top scorer and best player of the past Bundesliga season for higher things.
“It’s an extremely cool feeling to be part of this team. I enjoy it and try to take as many impressions as possible with me,” said the Innviertlerin. The first-class camp in south-west London has not only put a smile on her face. The idyllic “Pennyhill Park”, where England’s men around captain Harry Kane moved into quarters a year ago on their way to the EURO final, leaves nothing to be desired.
It is an oasis of well-being, but one in which one can definitely work up a sweat. Yesterday was the first intensive training session, which captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck missed because of her knee problems. Everyone joins in with zeal.
England’s proud streak
It will also take a bit of luck to inflict pain on the English women in front of 75,000 at Old Trafford. The “Lionesses” haven’t lost a single one of their last 14 international matches, twelve wins and a goal difference of 84:3. At the dress rehearsal in Zurich, 10,000 fans saw a 4-0 victory over Switzerland.
But the hostesses are not free from worries either. Record goalscorer Ellen White has not yet been able to free herself.
It’s a nerve-wracking race against time. The EURO starts in four days.
Source: Nachrichten
