Team boss Fuhrmann warns despite 8: 1 opening win: “Do not act so negligently in the remaining defense”.
After the 8-1 victory in Latvia on Friday – the highest away win in history – the women's national soccer team will continue with the away game in North Macedonia in the World Cup qualification on Tuesday (6 p.m. / live on ORF Sport +) . Against number 131 in the FIFA world rankings, the Austrians (21st) are once again clearly the favorites. ÖFB team boss Irene Fuhrmann was cautious.
“In the analysis we clearly stated that we shouldn't act as negligently in the remaining defense as we did against Latvia,” emphasized the 40-year-old. She referred to Finland legionnaire Gentjana Rochi (Kuopion Palloseura) and Natasa Andonova, who played at Levante in Spain, who could quickly punish mistakes with their individual quality. Andonova played in her career for Turbine Potsdam, Rosengaard, Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona and is the record scorer in her country. The Austrians are particularly warned about her.
In general, the North Macedonians, who lost 8-0 at the beginning of the qualification in England, are not the big unknown for Austria, as there were two encounters not so long ago. “We know how uncomfortable the team is to play on. The North Macedonians go into tough duels and like to play for time to break our rhythm. We have to be patient and determined,” said Fuhrmann. “We have to start the game better, be there right from the start and not give our opponents any space,” said Virginia Kirchberger.
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The two previous meetings between the ÖFB team and the selection supervised by Kiril Izov took place during the past European Championship qualification. Austria won 3-0 in September 2019 in Südstadt and around a month later in the National Arena Todor Proeski. The match will take place again on Tuesday in the national stadium in Skopje.
As at the qualifying start in Latvia, Fuhrmann can draw on unlimited resources. Marie-Therese Höbinger, the legionnaire from Turbine Potsdam, has scored three times in the past four games. “I would be happy if I can help the team with a goal again. But in the end it doesn't matter who scores the goals,” said the 20-year-old.
Austria will also meet Luxembourg, Northern Ireland and England in their quest for their first World Cup participation in qualifying. The group winners are fully qualified for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The runners-up in the nine groups have a play-off chance of up to three further World Cup starting places.
