Austria's women have to fight for their European Championship dream against Poland!

Austria's women have to fight for their European Championship dream against Poland!

In the second leg of the EURO playoffs, everything is on the line for the Austrian women's national football team this evening (6:15 p.m.) in Vienna's Viola Park. After the narrow 0-1 defeat in the first leg against Poland last week, the pressure on coach Irene Fuhrmann's players is enormous, because only a win will ensure participation in the 2025 European Championships. "The offense is too safe, it lacks that real goal instinct," ex-national player Elisabeth Tieber analyzed the situation in the run-up to the decisive game. The memories of previous successes, such as the two games won against Slovenia in the qualification, should give the women new courage laola1.at.

Catch-up required

The mood is tense, but the Austrians can draw on valuable experience. Players like Sarah Puntigam and Nicole Billa have already played in important games in recent years and know how to perform in pressure situations. Despite the outstanding performances of the Polish players, such as Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor, Tieber's assessment remains: "Overall, the level is higher than that of the Poles." The home crowd could also be an important pillar, as the support of 8,500 Polish fans in the first leg was overwhelming, while in Vienna, according to initial sales, only around 2,600 tickets were sold, which creates a familiar atmosphere cc.bingj.com.

It remains to be seen whether the team can perform at its best under pressure. Captain Puntigam clearly expressed her anticipation of the duel: “These are the coolest games when so much is at stake.” With this attitude, the ÖFB women are hoping for a successful turnaround in the second leg and thus for their third European Championship participation in a row.