Fuhrmann (r.) And goalkeeper Zinsberger are looking forward to the test
ÖFB team boss Irene Fuhrmann warned of the Scandinavians before the friendly international match between Austria's soccer players against Finland on Sunday (8.30 p.m. / live ORF Sport +) in Ritzing. “The Finns have regained their strength in recent years,” said Fuhrmann, referring specifically to their defense. In the European Championship qualification, the selection of team boss Anna Signeul as group winner had earned a fixed place at the final round in England in 2022.
“They are characterized by a compact, structured defense and get very few goals against. In addition, they are dangerous in the switching game and bring many players into the box. We will therefore also be challenged in the remaining defense,” said Fuhrmann before the third ÖFB- International game in 2021, which should clarify the next development step: “Now we have to be even smarter in the attacking third.” The result “is of secondary importance, even if we obviously want to win,” said Fuhrmann.
After an intensive week of training in the team camp in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, the 40-year-old can, according to the current status, fall back on all called up players. However, with the injured Viktoria Schnaderbeck, Verena Aschauer, Lisa-Marie Makas, Viktoria Pinther or Julia Hickelsberger-Füller, the experience from a total of 253 international matches is missing. For this, goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger is available again this time after her corona-related entry ban to Malta.
In the head-to-head with Finland, Austria is in the lead with three wins and one defeat from four meetings so far. Most recently in 2018 as part of the qualification for the 2019 World Cup, two wins (2: 0 and 4: 1).
