European Football Championship: “Hogwarts” as an oasis of well-being for the ÖFB team

Some team players had drawn the comparison with the fictional boarding school of the fictional character Harry Potter. “The whole hotel is a bit like ‘Hogwarts’,” said Sarah Zadrazil. Manuela Zinsberger and Laura Feiersinger made similar statements. Captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck described the luxury hotel, which is around 40 kilometers southwest of London and is secluded in the middle of 50 hectares of parkland in Bagshot, as “fairytale”.

In fact, the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) did not splash out and gave the team an oasis of well-being for the final round. Especially since the suggestions of the continental association (UEFA) did not enchant team boss Irene Fuhrmann and her staff. “The second we looked at this, we wanted it,” reported sporting director Peter Schöttel. It wasn’t cheap, “it took a few talks with the managing directors,” says Schöttel. “But we wanted to offer the women the same set-up as the men.” ORF.at was able to convince itself of this during a local inspection.

Where fox and rabbit say good night

Bagshot is where the proverbial fox and rabbit say good night – in reality it is at least a meeting zone. Since Austria’s 50-strong delegation moved into their quarters for their second European Championship finals, several foxes have been spotted here. If you make your way publicly, you can take the South Western Railway to Ascot in about an hour from central London. Not only is the well-known horse racing track located there, at the small, fine train station you can also easily change to an empty bus, which will take you to the “front door”. The sign clears all doubts: You have arrived at Pennyhill Park.

The noise from the street soon subsides, and unless clay pigeons are being shot at the range, it gets really quiet. The logo of the English national rugby team, which trains here, soon flashes through the bushes. A year ago it was the base camp for Harry Kane and his fellow English footballers, and many other top teams have already prepared here. This Friday, however, it is the Austrians who are preparing specifically for the next European Championship opponents, Northern Ireland. Not everyone is on the lush green, Schnaderbeck saves her knees and cycles on a hill.

The short way was the goal

The way to the training was not far, it can be reached on foot in just a few minutes. It brings back memories of Wageningen in the Netherlands, which served as the foundation for reaching the semi-finals five years ago. There, too, it only took a few minutes through a piece of forest. For Fuhrmann, then assistant to team manager Dominik Thalhammer, a decisive criterion when choosing accommodation, for Zinsberger even a “life saver”.

“When you know that you are playing in Manchester, Southampton and Brighton and you have travel difficulties anyway, it is incredibly important that you have an oasis of well-being and can walk from the hotel to the pitch,” said the goalkeeper. Everyone signs it. “We really feel very comfortable,” was the tenor. Walking, swimming, cycling or enjoying a coffee – all of this is possible here. The surrounding nature also offers the opportunity to clear your head.

The fitness studio belongs exclusively to the soccer players these days, there is a separate wellness area and opportunities to retreat. You’re cut off from the holidaymakers who splurge here for hundreds of pounds a night. In addition, an artificial turf hall is available, in which analysis is also carried out, for example the lost game against England (0:1) on Saturday. When Sarah Puntigam sees the goal conceded, she will think what she explained to the journalists the day before. “I take the goal on my cap, I should have played the ball better, then it would not have happened.” The emotions surrounding the opening game could be processed here in peace.

“Respect for the association”

In the days between the games there is also time to clarify other things. Katharina Naschenweng is not related to the singer Melissa, even if they both come from Carinthia. Meanwhile, Laura Wienroither’s skin is adorned with around twelve tattoos, the motifs of which primarily document her connection to her hometown of Frankenburg in Upper Austria. And the newly married midfielder Puntigam, who spends a “honeymoon at Hogwarts” so to speak, raves about the extraordinarily “comfortable beds”.

The footballers do not take this for granted and return the appreciation. “Respect to the association for making this possible for us,” said Arsenal legionnaire Wienroither. Carina Wenninger says “you couldn’t have caught it better”. And Schnaderbeck added: “That might be a small advantage for us that other teams don’t have. We also want to use it.”

Came to stay

The team wants to pay something back with good performances. After losing 1-0 to England in Manchester, where they sold themselves dearly, they face Northern Ireland in Southampton on Monday. Anything but a win against the European Championship newcomers, who lost 4-1 to Norway a day later, would be a huge disappointment in the fight for the hoped-for place in the quarter-finals. You don’t feel any pressure, but “we’re dying to get the first points,” promised Puntigam. Austria has come to Pennyhill Park to stay longer.