Hickelsberger-Füller, Austria’s Footballer of the Year in 2022, had to miss the first test matches of the year at the end of February against England (2:7) and Denmark (1:1). Now the 24-year-old from German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim appears in Fuhrmann’s squad. “She has now played minutes again,” said the team manager when the squad was announced on Wednesday. “She has had a difficult year and I am excited to see how she will perform in the first few days with us.”
The only major change in the squad compared to the last international matches is the call-up of Mariella El Sherif as the third goalkeeper alongside Manuel Zinsberger and Jasmin Pal. El Sherif replaces the ailing Isabella Kresche. With Lara Felix (1. FC Nürnberg) and Laura Wienroither (Arsenal London), two team players with long-term injuries are also available again. Neulengbach goalkeeper Larissa Rusek is also in the extended squad for the first time.
picturedesk.com/EXPA/Eibner Hickelsberger-Füller is said to have finally overcome her injury woes
Fuhrmann did not want to give an insight into her thoughts about who would be in the starting line-up for the start against the record European champions from Germany. “In the end, it will also depend on our sensitivity as to which player we particularly need in which duel. We now have players with different qualities. I’m positive that we can present ourselves well – just like we did in the autumn,” said the team boss, referring to the successful Nations League, where the Austrians were able to retain the A-class at the expense of Norway, among other things.
Anticipation of hits
There is great anticipation about qualifying for the European Championships next year in Switzerland. Especially, of course, to the first duel with our neighbors from Germany, who will go into the qualification as big favorites in a group with Iceland and Poland. However, Fuhrmann tried to stop the construction of any castles in the air early on: “We can assess it realistically: we need a very good day and Germany perhaps a slightly worse one so that we can take something with us there.”
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European Championship qualification schedule and tables
With the help of the audience in the first home game against Germany – the first three matches took place in the neighboring country or on neutral ground – the surprise in the form of a point win should be achieved. “It’s a casual start for us in a beautiful arena, which we hope to fill. Because then there will be an atmosphere that does justice to the game,” the team boss sent an appeal to the fans to ensure a new record in terms of attendance.
On September 26, 2023, 10,051 supporters in the Generali Arena set a record for women’s games in Austria during the 1-0 defeat against France in the Nations League. There are 19,080 seats available in the Linz Arena, and around 4,500 of them had already been made available to fans on the day the squad was announced. Regardless, the preparation of Fuhrmann’s women begins on April 1st with the journey to the team camp in Windischgarsten, Upper Austria.
ÖFB squad
Tor: Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal/96 international matches)
Marialla El Sherif (SK Sturm Graz/0), Jasmin Pal (1. FC Köln/4)
Defense: Chiara D’Angelo (Hoffenheim/0/0), Celina Degen (1. FC Köln/14/2 goals), Marina Georgieva (ACF Fiorentina/34/0), Verena Hanshaw (Eintracht Frankfurt/106/10), Virginia Kirchberger (Eintracht Frankfurt/100/5), Jennifer Klein (SKN St. Pölten/19/1), Katharina Schiechtl (FK Austria Wien/70/10), Claudia Wenger (SKN St. Pölten/3/0)
Midfield: Barbara Dunst (Eintracht Frankfurt/77/12), Laura Feiersinger (AS Roma/114/19), Julia Hickelsberger-Füller (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/27/7), Marie-Therese Höbinger (FC Liverpool/36/7), Katharina Naschenweng (Bayern Munich/50/6), Sarah Puntigam (Houston Dash/142/19), Annabel Schasching (SC Freiburg/16/1), Sarah Zadrazil (Bayern Munich/117/15)
Attack: Nicole Billa (Hoffenheim/98/47), Eileen Campbell (Freiburg/13/4), Lisa Kolb (Freiburg/20/1), Viktoria Pinther(FC Zurich/37/2), Lilli Purtscheller (Essen 19/8/0 )
