After the painful defeat against Germany (2:3) and the victory in Poland (3:1), the ÖFB team will first play in Ried and then in Reykjavik against Iceland. The games at the end of the season are a special challenge for Fuhrmann: “It was a long season for many players and we have to be sensitive to how high the workload is. We know how important these duels are for direct qualification.”
Both teams have three points, Germany is in the lead with six points. The first and second place in the group qualify directly for the European Championships in Switzerland, the third and fourth placed teams have to compete in a two-stage play-off in the fall against teams from lower divisions.
Champion Zadrazil back in the squad
Fuhrmann will have to do without Naschenweng, who is at least available on call, and Kolb. “Naschenweng has persistent knee problems. The absence hurts us. Kolb is absent due to Achilles tendon irritation and – as things stand – will also be absent from the games in July.” Sarah Zadrazil, however, is back after her absence in April.
IMAGO/Beautiful Sports/Wunderl Bayern legionnaire Sarah Zadrazil is back in the ÖFB squad after an injury
Preparation for the two games starts on Monday. On Saturday, the day after the home game, the team will fly to Iceland on the same plane as their opponents. “When you fly a line, something like this can happen,” explained Fuhrmann.
3,000 tickets have already been sold for the game in Ried on Friday. “I hope we have a great atmosphere. There will be more difficult phases against Iceland and we will need our fans behind us,” said Fuhrmann. A venue was also found for the final two qualifying games. The home game against Poland (July 12th) will take place in Altach, the away game against Germany (July 16th) in Hanover.
ÖFB squad for European Championship qualification
Tor: Mariella El Sherif (SK Sturm Graz/0), Jasmin Pal (1. FC Köln/GER/4), Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal WFC/ENG/98)
Defense: Michela Croatto (RB Leipzig/GER/1/0), Celina Degen (1. FC Köln/GER/16/2 goals), Marina Georgieva (ACF Fiorentina/ITA/36/0), Verena Hanshaw (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER/108/10), Virginia Kirchberger (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER/102/5), Jennifer Klein (spusu SKN St. Pölten Rush/19/1), Katharina Schiechtl (FK Austria Wien/72/10), Claudia Wenger (spusu SKN St. Pölten Rush/3/0), Laura Wienroither (FC Arsenal WFC/ENG/33/2)
Midfield: Barbara Dunst (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER/79/12), Laura Feiersinger (AS Roma/ITA/115/19), Julia Hickelsberger-Füller (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/GER/29/7), Marie-Therese Höbinger (FC Liverpool/ENG/36/7), Sarah Puntigam (Houston Dash/USA/144/20), Annabel Schasching (SC Freiburg/17/1), Sarah Zadrazil (FC Bayern Munich/GER/117/15)
Attack: Nicole Billa (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/GER/100/47), Eileen Campbell (SC Freiburg/GER/15/7), Viktoria Pinther (FC Zurich/SUI/39/2), Lilli Purtscheller (SGS Essen 19/68/GER /10/1)
On call: Livia Brunmair (1. FC Nuremberg/GER/0/0), Melanie Brunnthaler (spusu SKN St. Pölten Rush/0/0),
Carina Brunhold (SPG FC Lustenau/FC Dornbirn Ladies), Chiara D’Angelo (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/GER/0/0), Andrea Gurtner (OFI Kreta/GRE/0), Sophie Hillebrand (spusu SKN St. Pölten Rush/0/0), Elena Kössler (SK Sturm Graz/0/0), Isabella Kresche (US Sassuolo Calcio/ITA/6), Valentina Kröll (SGS Essen 19/68/GER/0/0), Annelie Leitner (SD Eibar/ESP/1/0), Valentina Mädl (spusu SKN St. Pölten Rush/0/0), MAIERHOFER Sophie (SK Sturm Graz/22/1), MAYRHOFER Sandra (SoccerCoin USV Neulengbach/0/0), Katharina Naschenweng (FC Bayern München/GER/50/6), Nicole Ojukuw (First Vienna FC 1894/0/0), Larissa Rusek (SoccerCoin USV Neulengbach/0), Yvonne Weilharter (FK Austria Wien/6/0)
