As in Düsseldorf for the 0:1 defeat against France, around 20,000 fans will be there again, perhaps more. The Poland game at the start of the weekend was probably particularly attractive for home fans to secure tickets in various ways. There is also enough space in the largest European Championship stadium with a capacity of 71,000 people. The fans make their way to Berlin by plane, train, bus or car.
“Our fan clubs are very euphoric, you can tell,” said ÖFB fan representative Ingo Mach in the run-up to the event, who puts the Austrian fan group at the top of the tournament in terms of numbers. This means “we are among the top nations.” Goalkeeper Patrick Pentz is also happy, as unlike many ÖFB team players, he has never been a guest there before. “And there can be almost twice as many spectators as in Düsseldorf. I was already celebrating what happened there,” emphasized Austria’s new number one. “It will be a fantastic atmosphere again tomorrow, we have to play a one-two with our style of play,” said team manager Ralf Rangnick.
As far as behavior is concerned, Austria is also at the forefront, says Günther Marek, head of the task force in the Ministry of the Interior. “The Austrian fans certainly presented a fantastic picture in Düsseldorf. The numbers are not transferable one-to-one, but something similar will happen in Berlin,” says Marek. The fact that Austrian fans can get moving was shown not least by the 2016 European Championships in France, when 70,000 people accompanied the ÖFB team.
Large stadium with history
The Olympic Stadium in Berlin is similar to the Stade de France, where Austria suffered a surprise 1-2 defeat to Iceland eight years ago and was eliminated as last in the pool with only one point (against eventual European champions Portugal). An oval with a running track, but with much more history, as it was opened under the Nazi flag for the 1936 Summer Games.
Five years later, Rapid was crowned German champions in front of over 80,000 spectators after coming back from a 0-3 deficit to win 4-3 against Schalke, with Franz “Bimbo” Binder scoring three times.
ORF/Bernhard Kastler Calm before the storm: This will show where Austria’s path will lead at the European Championships
Six games will be played at the home ground of second division club Hertha BSC Berlin. Spain has already beaten Croatia 3-0 here. After the two Austria matches, there will be a round of 16 and a quarter-final, as well as the big European Championship final on July 14. It will be the second of a major football final after the 2006 World Cup final. Italy won that, but it was also remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt in his very last game as a professional. Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record also took place here. In 2009, the Jamaican only needed 9.58 seconds.
Austria needs premiere against Poland
Austria must ensure a simpler premiere. To achieve promotion, they need at least one win and that is to be achieved against Poland. That was already clear at the draw, even for team manager Rangnick, who after the France match described the Poland match as a match with final characteristics. If the ÖFB team loses and the France-Netherlands clash ends in a draw, Austria’s exit after the group stage would already be sealed.
GEPA/Philipp Brem No win in five competitive matches against Poland, most recently a goalless draw in Warsaw in 2019
Of course, no one in the team is thinking about that, but the starting position is clear. “If we want to get far and get through the group, it’s a classic six-point game,” emphasised Maximilian Wöber. Austria has never won against Poland in five competitive matches. In a total of ten duels, there were two wins, three draws and five defeats, with a goal difference of 17:19. The last win was 30 years ago, in May 1994, Austria won 4:3 in Katowice thanks to a hat-trick from Peter Stöger.
ÖFB record against Poland
10 games – 3 wins, 2 draws, 5 defeats (goal difference 17:19)
12 May 1935 (FS), Vienna: Austria – Poland 5:26 October 1935 (FS), Warsaw: Poland – Austria 1:024 August 1977 (FS), Vienna: Austria – Poland 2:119 May 1992 (FS), Salzburg: Austria – Poland 2:417 May 1994 (FS), Katowice: Poland – Austria 3:49 October 2004 (WM-Q), Vienna: Austria – Poland 1:33 September 2005 (WM-Q), Chorzow: Poland – Austria 3:212 June 2008 (EM), Vienna: Austria – Poland 1:121 March 2019 (EM-Q), Vienna: Austria – Poland 0:19 September 2019 (EM-Q), Warsaw: Poland – Austria 0:0
