Qualification for the European Championships: Three points in Baku are mandatory for ÖFB-U21

Against Croatia, ÖFB-Elf is also under pressure if they want to preserve their chances of fighting for a fixed ticket. The Croats still have a clean slate after five matches. Norway and Austria are six points behind, and the Norwegians play one game less than the Croats and Grigorić’s followers. Even the Finns with seven points are still participating. Only one of the group’s runners-up will go to EM 2023 in Romania and Georgia, and the rest will have to try their luck in the play-off.

The Austrian team has been preparing in Bad Schallerbach and Wales since Monday, followed by the trip to Baku via Linz on Wednesday. There they want to present themselves as confidently as in the 6-0 home win in early September, where Red Junior Adamo (3, 39), Emmanuel Ayew (19), Romano Schmid (85) and Tobias Anselm (90). 93.) have met. Adamu misses this time because he was promoted to the first team for the first time. Nicholas Seewald is also absent due to his “promotion”.

Thinking about our strengths

In addition, defense failures support Captain Flavius ​​Danieliuk, Leo Greml, Niklas Gerhofer and David Avengruber painfully. Alexandre Brass, Tierno Ballou and Patrick Wimmer are also not in service. “Unfortunately, for various reasons we did not have the strongest team together in the fall. Failures are painful of course, but we will not let them discourage us,” said Gregorich.

After the second defeat in the current competition, a reaction should follow. “It will be important to push the principles into our game that have made us strong in the spring again,” said the 63-year-old Styrian. His team started the playoffs with great self-confidence. “The defeat in Norway gave us a point that got worse with the Finland match. Now we have to show character and focus on our strengths.”

European Under-21 Championship Qualifiers, Group A.