Ried, Austria – The Austrian women’s national team faces a significant challenge as they continue their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification campaign against Germany on April 14th in Nuremberg and April 18th in Ried im Innkreis. Despite recent setbacks – losses to Norway and Slovenia in March – head coach Alexander Schriebl remains optimistic, urging his team to draw inspiration from successful squads like the ÖFB U17s, the Austrian men’s national team, and even the recent Champions League performers, Bodø/Glimt.
“The roles are clear,” Schriebl stated. “Primarily, it’s about presenting ourselves well.” However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of an upset, acknowledging, “The beautiful thing about football is that anything is possible, but we also realize that a lot has to fall into place.”
Early Qualification Struggles
Austria began their World Cup qualification journey with a pair of 1-0 defeats, first at home against Norway in March and then away to Slovenia. Schriebl emphasized the importance of replicating the performance against Norway, focusing on “passion and exceptionally good structure.” He also acknowledged the disappointing showing in Slovenia, attributing it to the team becoming “too tense” and allowing pressure to negatively impact their play.
The upcoming matches against Germany represent a significant step up in competition. Germany currently sits as a clear favorite, but Schriebl believes his team can still craft a strong showing. “We know a lot has to go right,” he conceded.
Injury Concerns and Squad Updates
Schriebl will be without several key players for the upcoming matches due to long-term injuries. Sarah Zadrazil, Marie-Therese Höbinger, Lilli Purtscheller, and Manuela Zinsberger are all unavailable for selection. Katharina Naschenweng is also sidelined with a knee injury, though she is expected to recover within days. Notably, Nicole Billa, who was previously included in the squad, has been left out, with Schriebl explaining that they anticipate limited opportunities in the penalty area against Germany.
The squad will commence preparations with a public training session at the ÖFB Campus next Wednesday. Laura Wienroither and Eileen Campbell, having recovered from their respective injuries, have been welcomed back into the team, alongside debutante Louise Schöffel.
Approximately 3,500 tickets have been sold for the match in Ried im Innkreis, with a capacity of 4,300. Schriebl expressed hope that a full stadium will provide a significant boost to the team. “A full house can incredibly inspire us. It can be a great evening in Ried with the support of the fans,” he said.
Following the matches against Germany, Austria will continue their qualification campaign in June with games against Norway and Slovenia. The decisive stage of qualification will then grab place in the autumn, with a playoff round determining their fate. “The opportunity to be at the World Cup is there. The autumn will be decisive,” Schriebl stated, adding that he expects several key players to be back from injury by then.
The Austrian women’s team’s journey to the World Cup is far from over. While facing a tough opponent in Germany, Schriebl and his squad are determined to compete with passion and structure, hoping to build momentum and secure a place in the tournament.
Next up for the Austrian women’s national team are the crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Germany on April 14th and 18th. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage and updates on their progress.
