Fix group win with home win against Norway’s B-Elf – football Vorarlberg –

The most unusual match of the recent past is waiting for the Austrian soccer team on Wednesday (8:45 pm). The ÖFB team competes in Vienna’s empty Happel stadium against a Norwegian emergency team, which formed on short notice on Monday. Despite all the bizarre circumstances, the stakes are high: this is the Nations League group win, and thus also a back door to the 2022 World Cup play-off.

The originally nominated Norwegian team players were given a ten-day quarantine by the national health authority due to a positive corona test by Galatasaray professional Omar Elabdellaoui. Therefore, the away game against Romania scheduled for Sunday could not be played, the match should have a 3-0 rating for the Romanians.

This in turn means that Austria have already finished first in a draw against the Norwegians three points behind. Even a 1-0 loss would be enough for the top spot due to the Austrians’ 2-1 in Oslo in September. If Austria lands first, they would play against the best nations in the next edition of the Nations League and have a good chance of making the play-off if they fail to qualify for the World Cup.

The team leader, Franco Foda, does not want to miss this opportunity. “We really want to win, regardless of which constellation Norway plays in. What matters is that we perform like we did in Norway,” said the German.

Foda does not want to be influenced too much by the turbulence of the enemy. “For us nothing changes in the starting position. We always had the plan to win the game. We are favorites, so we have to perform.” However, the upside-down selection of Scandinavians should not be underestimated. “All newcomers play an important role in their clubs, so this is a good team,” emphasized the 54-year-old.

Foda and his support team were busy on Monday analyzing current Norwegian team players and interim coach Leif Gunnar Smerud. According to Foda, the regular U21 supervisor relies primarily on a 4-4-2, but has also set up a 5-3-2 system.

According to the ÖFB coach, the focus is on his own troops anyway. “We have to concentrate on the essentials, on our game. It is a final game in which we have to invest everything again. Of course it is an extraordinary match, but anyway we have a great goal in mind. the last step “.

His side have won the last five games, but there have been repeated criticisms recently, even after Sunday’s boring 2-1 against Northern Ireland. In this context, Foda again pointed out that it is not easy to shine against a deep opponent. “Attacking football is always the hardest part, defending is a little easier.”

The coach sees no lack of creativity in the offensive game of the ÖFB team. “We also know that we can play better, but we also have to remember that we have scored five goals in the last two games,” Foda said. After six victories in the previous seven international matches, his team is the most successful national team in Europe this year based on average points. The real litmus test will not come until 2021 with qualification for the World Cup and the MS.

FOOTBALL Nations League, League B, Group 1, last day

Austria – Norway today

Vienna, Ernst Happel Stadium, 8:45 pm, SR Bastien (FRA)

Austria
(4-2-3-1): Pervan (6 caps); Lainer (24/1 goal), Ilsanker (47/0), Hinteregger (52/4), Ulmer (20/0); Xaver Schlager (16/1), Baumgartlinger (81/1), Sabitzer (45/8), Alaba (75/14); Arnautovic (86/26), Grbic (6/3

Norway
(4-4-2): Kristiansen; Vindheim, Hanche Olsen, Gabrielsen, Skjelvik; Evjen, Möller-Dähli, Askildsen, Zahid; Strand Larsen, Berisha

Table:
1. Austria 12 points in 5 games 8: 5; 2. Norway 4 games 9 pts (11: 3); 3. Romania 4; 4. Northern Ireland 1 point;