Austria’s football women: “We can dream”

Austria’s women’s national soccer team can expect the second largest crowd in its era today (9:10 p.m.). 26,000 fans bring a sold-out crowd to Roazhon Park in Rennes, where Irene Fuhrmann’s selection will face favorites France in the penultimate match of the highest category in the UEFA Nations League. The 68,871 who watched the EURO opening match on July 6, 2022 against England (0-1) in the venerable Old Trafford in Manchester remain unsurpassed.

“We enjoy playing in front of so many people. It will be something special,” said FC Bayern legionnaire Sarah Zadrazil before the showdown with Grande Nation, who won the first leg at Viola Park in Favoriten 1-0. The overall balance also speaks clearly for the Equipe Tricolore: In nine duels there were seven French victories and two draws – one at the 2017 European Championship (1:1) and one in the 2020 European Championship qualification (0:0).

“We can dream, we did very well in Vienna,” emphasized team boss Fuhrmann. If the premiere success were successful, Austria would even have a chance of winning the group, which would be rewarded with a place in the semi-finals. And then it wouldn’t be that far to get a ticket to the final, which, by the way, guarantees a prestigious starting place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. As I said: dreaming is allowed.

First of all, it is important to fix the first milestone, namely staying in League A. This can already be achieved if Norway and Portugal draw with a draw beforehand (from 7 p.m.).
But the Austrians, who flew from Linz to France and will play against Norway in St. Pölten on Tuesday (7:15 p.m.) at the end of the group phase, are primarily looking at themselves. “We are known for being the big ones can be angry. That’s exactly what we want to do,” says Julia Hickelsberger-Füller, promising her opponents from the Grande Nation a hot dance.

However, the French bring a lot of quality with them. Series champions SKN St. Pölten recently felt this in the Champions League at Olympique Lyon (0:2). The outstanding players are defense chief Wendie Renard (33) and striker Eugenie Le Sommer (34).

UEFA Nations League

Women’s League A, Group 2, today, 7 p.m.: Norway – Portugal; 9.10 p.m.: France – Austria (in Rennes, ORF Sport+/2nd half). Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.: Austria – Norway (in St. Pölten, ORF Sport+), Portugal – France. Table: 1. France 10/4, 2. Austria 7/4, 3. Portugal 3/4, 4. Norway 2/4.
Mode: The four group winners qualify for the semi-finals, the third-placed teams have to go into relegation and the fourth-placed teams have to be relegated to League B.