Enough talk, let ’em play – in west London. Curtain up for the small but fine Brentford Community Stadium, which today (9 p.m., ORF 1) is the stage for the first international match between Austria, number 21 in the world, and the incredible eight-time European champion, two-time world champion and Olympic champion Germany will be. The roles are therefore clearly divided, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s DFB team is confronted with the pressure of having to win this EURO quarter-final after a flawless group stage with three wins and 9-0 goals.
But what was, counts for nothing in the here and now. The two test matches that the red-white-red women lost against their big neighbors away 2: 4 (in Regensburg 2016) and 1: 3 (in Essen 2018) have zero significance. “We know that the favorite doesn’t always win,” emphasizes ÖFB defender Marina Georgieva, who is brimming with confidence. And not just her. Body language is positive, fear has been removed from the vocabulary. The respect remains – but not excessively.
The next penalty thriller?
“We will set pinpricks – and hopefully use them positively,” emphasized Austria’s goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger, who could have a lot of work to do. Svenja Huth and Klara Bühl twirl on the flanks, while captain Alexandra Popp, who has scored in each of the three EURO matches, lurks in the centre. “I know the Germans. It was clear to me before the tournament that Popp is a force in the air. I’m trying to trust my quality and maybe get a ball or two,” said Zinsberger, who also suggested a possible penalty shootout is prepared. That would not be a surprise. After all, two of the best defensive departments – Austria has conceded a goal, Germany none – clash.
The two red-white-red knockout duels also culminated in a showdown from the point after 120 goalless minutes at the 2017 European Summer Fairy Tale with the semi-finals in the Netherlands. It was a success story against Spain, against Denmark the round didn’t want to go into the square.
Luck is part of it, but not exclusively. Austria’s team boss Irene Fuhrmann leaves nothing to chance, in the past few months the topic has popped up again and again. On Tuesday, ÖFB sports psychologist Mirjam Wolf offered a focus on penalties on a voluntary basis. Anyone who wanted to talk about it was welcome.
“Everyone handles it very individually. When Nici Billa plays, she grabs the ball. The players have the freedom to decide for themselves who plays and who doesn’t, depending on their feelings. That fits,” said Fuhrmann. Billa is relaxed about a possible penalty shootout. “If it comes to that, I’ll be happy because we’ll have a draw after 120 minutes. But it would be cool if it were decided earlier – for us.”
“The whole of Austria is behind you”
A whole nation is behind Austria’s women’s soccer team today (9 p.m.), who can reach the semi-finals of a European championship for the second time in a row by beating Germany. The optimism is palpable, the one million viewer mark will almost certainly be broken in front of the TV sets via ORF 1, thousands flock to public viewing locations. One of them is the Kastanienstadion in Linz’s Kapuzinerstraße 36, which KAPU set up in cooperation with the women’s office of the city of Linz.
It goes without saying that the male ÖFB national players are also keeping their fingers crossed today. “The whole of Austria is behind you, girls! With your great team spirit, you also have a chance against Germany. Step on the gas,” emphasized TSG Hoffenheim striker Christoph Baumgartner. Konrad Laimer, who is about to transfer from RB Leipzig to FC Bayern Munich, also believes captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck & Co. can do anything. “Girls, the whole of Austria is rooting for you. I wish you all the best for the quarter-finals. You can do it!”
Christine Holzmüller is one of the institutions in local women’s football as long-standing chairwoman of Union Kleinmünchen. “It will be very difficult against Germany, but I have confidence in our kickers. The longer we don’t get a goal, the greater the chance of a surprise.”
No matter how the game ends, the women’s national team has also won some sympathizers in the male camp thanks to the strong performances – including Gerald Scheiblehner, coach of second division soccer club FC Blau-Weiss Linz: “Meanwhile I’ve become a fan of our women’s national team. Man mustn’t make the mistake of comparing women’s football to men’s, because then you might not find it good.I can only say from a neutral point of view as an interested spectator: Technically and tactically, football is at a very good level.There is a clear one The idea behind it, there are good individual players.”
Although she was born in Germany, but has been living in Mondsee since 2005 and has been successfully chasing medals for Austria, disabled cyclist Yvonne Marzinke will also keep her fingers crossed for the local team before she flies to Canada for the World Cup and World Championships. “Of course Germany are the favorites, but that doesn’t always have to be an advantage. I’m hoping for a surprise.” She is also happy about the increased attention to women’s football in general. “I find it very entertaining.” (alex/rawa/fei)
Source: Nachrichten
