Austria’s women are starting a new football era

What has been on the agenda for men since 2018 is now also available for women. The UEFA Nations League is in the starting blocks and with it the tournament that replaces relatively insignificant football friendlies and enables an additional title (in addition to the World Cup and EURO). The new format seems to be well received in Austria; almost 8,000 tickets have already been sold for the group game against France next Tuesday in Viola Park in Vienna-Favoriten (6.30 p.m., ORF 1). This guarantees by far the largest crowd that a women’s international match has achieved on red-white-red ground (3,600 to date).

It starts for Irene Fuhrmann’s protégés on Friday (7 p.m., ORF Sport+) in the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, where the Norwegians, who failed in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, are waiting. “Basically they are above us, but if we have a good day, anything is possible,” said the team boss. It takes a great moment like at EURO 2022 in Brighton, where Austria’s selection won 1-0 with a golden goal from Nicole Billa and thus made it into the knockout phase. “I often think back to this special moment,” said the striker, who wears the TSG Hoffenheim jersey in everyday league life.

Norway’s selection is not only expected to be extremely motivated because of the home advantage, it is also the first appearance under new coach Leif Gunnar Smerud, who previously had his home country’s male U21 team under his wing for nine years. The 46-year-old is initially the interim successor to Björn Helge Riise, who had to step down after the World Cup.

Tough chunks in Group 2

Caroline Graham Hansen should also play a central role in Smerud. The 28-year-old storms for FC Barcelona. It’s important to get it under control. “It would be a dream scenario for us to get off to a good start and take something with us. I am generally positive,” said Fuhrmann. A sense of achievement would also be important because there are only strong opponents in this group. Norway and France are also joined by Portugal, the team that held the Americans to a 0-0 draw at the World Cup and almost won (a shot from the pole shortly before the end).

The first place moves into the semi-finals, the third has to go into relegation to avoid relegation, the fourth automatically ends up in the second division of the Nations League (League B). That’s what the regulator wants.

The anticipation of the ÖFB team is clearly noticeable. “Finally a competitive atmosphere again,” emphasized captain Sarah Puntigam, who left 1. FC Köln with her wife and found a new challenge in the United States. The 30-year-old has played three matches for the Houston Dash so far.

Four failures

Fuhrmann cannot field their nominally strongest formation in Norway. Frankenburg’s Laura Wienroither (WFC Arsenal) and Julia Hickelsberger-Füller (Hoffenheim) are not fit to play due to injuries, and Vöcklabruck’s Lisa Kolb (SC Freiburg) and Claudia Wenger (SKN St. Pölten) from St. Ulrich near Steyr also reported their absence at short notice . Annabel Schasching (SC Freiburg) from St. Aegidi is available for this.

Nations League, League A, Group 2

• 1 round
  Friday, 7 p.m.: Norway – Austria
  Friday, 9:10 p.m.: France – Portugal
• 2nd round
  Tuesday, 6.30 p.m.: Austria – France
  Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.: Portugal – Norway
• The other dates: Friday, October 27th: Austria – Portugal, Norway – France.
  Tuesday, October 31st, Portugal – Austria, France – Norway.
  Thursday November 30th: France – Austria. Friday December 1st: Norway – Portugal
  Tuesday, December 5th: Austria – Norway, Portugal – France