© Sports Report
As the football year 2022 draws to a close, 2023 is already casting a shadow over the sport. It was Thursday The UEFA headquarters in Nyon (SUI) have drawn up the Euro qualification groups for the Euro national teams.
Big challenges await Austria’s talents alongside England and Denmark in the first qualifying round for their respective finals in 2024.
The U19 National Team (JG 2005) was in suspense for a long time. In the last ball from Pot Two, Austria were drawn in Group 12 against Wales and Montenegro. In the end, only England and Ireland remained from the bowl – they became the “Young Lions”. The first round of qualifying will be very British for team boss Oliver Lederer to pick.
“It’s a very attractive group, but it’s not too difficult in the first qualifying round. “That’s why I have to honestly say we weren’t happy after the draw,” Lederer said.
The division of roles is clear to the team boss: “We will be competing with Wales and Montenegro for second place. England will certainly qualify as favourites, but that does not mean we are going to stop playing just yet. We know what is coming and the climb will be anything but easy.
Lederer wants to make the most of the time until the qualifiers, which start in September: “We recently had an opponent in Northern Ireland who played similarly to Wales. We will prepare as best we can and take away the knowledge that we have the advantage to advance from this year. England will be a real test for the boys, but knowing them they are already looking forward to it. Our goal is to rise. We definitely don’t qualify with fear. “
A tie between the four group teams determined that the mini-tournament would be held in Montenegro. The exact date of the game (September, October or November) is yet to be decided. The top two teams and the best third-place finishers will advance to the Elite Round. UEFA U19 EURO 2024 will be held in Northern Ireland.
One challenge and two unknowns
A long journey awaits the U17 National Team (JG 2007) in the first qualifying round. Team boss Martin Sherb’s selection will compete in their mini-tournament in Georgia next October (11-17). Apart from the hosts, Denmark and Lithuania await the ÖFB talents.
“It’s an exciting group,” says Scherb after the draw. “We have always had experiences with Denmark in qualifiers and friendlies over the years. We know how they play. Denmark is doing a great job in the youth sector and they were drawn from pot one for a reason.
The other two rivals cannot absorb this extensive experience: “We don’t know the other two teams at the moment, but we will definitely deal extensively with them.”
The team boss formulates a clear objective: “We want to win the group or at least finish second. With this claim we go to Georgia.
The top two teams from the first qualifying round and the top five third-placed teams will advance to the elite round. The UEFA U17 EURO 2024 final will be held in Cyprus.
Media information ÖFB
08.12.2022
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