Six-time winners, Germany meet Austria at Brentford Community Stadium, London, in the second Quarter-Final of 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro.
Germany advanced to this stage as Group B winners after winning all three group matches against Denmark, Spain and Finland respectively, whilst Austria scraped through as Group A runners-up behind England.
Team News
Felicitas Rauch is set to return for Germany after she missed their win over Finland through suspension, whilst Lena Oberdorf is also set to return after she also was suspended due to having received yellow cards in their opening group matches.
Marina Hegering could be rested because she will miss the semi-final if she receives another booking in this match.
Austria have no fresh injury concerns to report but Viktoria Schnaderbeck is a doubt with a knee injury.
Katharina Naschenweng could return after recovering from Coronavirus, which forced her to miss Austria’s win over Norway in their final Group A match.
Carina Wenninger and Julia Hickelsberger-Füller could both be rested due to the risk of missing the semi-final if Austria win this match, with both players one booking away from suspension.
Stat Attack
- This is Germany’s first-ever competitive meeting against Austria in all competitions.
- Germany have won each of their two previous meetings against Austria (W2), albeit in friendlies as they prevailed 4-2 in October 2016 then 3-1 in October 2018.
- Austria are yet to keep a clean sheet against Germany in all competitions.
- Two of Alexandra Popp’s three goals for Germany in the Group Stage came after half-time (W3).
- Austria are looking to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive Women’s Euro tournament – having first achieved that feat on their tournament debut in 2017.
Prediction
Having dominated Group B with incredible composure, hard pressing to punish defensive sloppiness and clinical play, Germany enter this match as favourites which highlights their impressive turnaround compared to earlier this year where they won one of their first five matches in all competitions.
Austria meanwhile can’t be underestimated because having watched them in action in-person against England, this Austrian team is a well-organised and disciplined side who can match whoever they face so I expect them to come out fighting and try to frustrate Germany.
The first goal therefore will be crucial because if Austria get in front, anything could happen given Germany’s attacking quality and Austria’s defensive ability, yet if Germany score first then I can see just one result coming.
Prediction: Germany 2-0 Austria
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