The test match between Luxembourg and Austria on Wednesday (8.30 p.m., live on ORF1) in the Stade Josy Barthel is not only a subordinate priority for the ÖFB selection. Team boss Luc Holtz sees the game as just a warm-up exercise for the last Nations League matches, in which Luxembourg – as well as Austria – is about to win the group and thus promotion.
The hosts are therefore not looking forward to the duel. “We only have to look at the friendly against Austria as a test. It can be very difficult for us, but that’s the way it is. We cannot allow ourselves to waste all our energies against Austria. The players who play in this game have to show that they are very close to the first team, ”said Holtz, who has been in office since 2010.
Luxembourg won three wins from four games in League C of the Nations League in autumn, leading Group 1. Should the top position be defended in the final matches on Saturday in Cyprus and on the following Tuesday at home against Azerbaijan, Luxembourg would be on the second highest Nations League level, where Austria is currently to be found.
Test defeat against Liechtenstein
The days when Luxembourg was considered a classic example of a “snack opponent” are clearly over. The most recent 2-1 away wins over Azerbaijan and Montenegro and the 2-0 home win over Cyprus serve as evidence of this. Despite a 0-1 home defeat against Montenegro, Luxembourg leads the table due to the direct duel they won.
The October victories against Cyprus and Montenegro were preceded by a test match in which Holtz also spared many regular players – they promptly lost 2-1 at home to Liechtenstein. However, such setbacks have been limited in recent years.
Many legionaries in the squad
Thanks to players like Leandro Barreiro, who is involved with FSV Mainz 05, the team from the 630,000-inhabitant state blossomed into an opponent that should not be underestimated, as world number 95 (Austria is 25th) shows. Many squad players earn their living abroad and are involved in clubs in Portugal, Belgium or the Ukraine.
Nevertheless, up to now one has been a long way from participating in a World Cup or European Championship. After all, there were isolated successes such as a 1-0 win over the European Championship finalists from 1996 in the Czech Republic or a 1: 1 in Italy in 2014. The Luxembourgers caused a real sensation in 2008 with a 2-1 win against Switzerland in the World Cup qualification.
