No, it is still not a great love that Austrian football fans associate with the UEFA Nations League. Today (6 p.m.) the draw for the third edition of the competition, which has existed since 2018, will take place in Montreux.
At least we now know that we owe a lot to that tournament that bridges the time between a European Championship qualification and a World Cup qualification and, above all, is supposed to fill the coffers of the European Football Association. Without the group victory in 2020 (ahead of Norway, Romania and Northern Ireland) Austria’s chances of participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would be completely wasted due to fourth place in the completely botched World Cup qualification. So you could get a ticket for the play-off via the “Cup of Last Hope”, in which you first have to eliminate Wales in March and then the winner of the match between Scotland and Ukraine.
In addition, Austria was promoted to Pool A of the top teams by winning the group. And with that you will definitely draw attractive opponents today. It could be a “hammer group” with France, Germany and England. But even if Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland were drawn in the end – there are only attractive and above all difficult opponents waiting. “This is a huge highlight for all Austrian fans, you get top opponents in competition games. There has never been anything like this in this constellation. I assume that every home game will be sold out,” said ÖFB team boss Franco Foda. You shouldn’t be so sure about the sold out games. The Happel Stadium is currently filled with a maximum of games against the five or six most attractive opponents in Europe. In addition, your own performance must finally fit again.
Place in the play-off practically fixed
This time it won’t be enough to win the group. A place in the qualifying play-off for the 2024 European Championship finals in Germany is almost fixed for every participant in Pool A. The aim should be to make it through the “normal” European Championship qualification and not through the “Cup of Last Hope”.
Source: Nachrichten
