While Scots can count on the support of fans, McDiarmid Park, which has over 10,000 spectators, is sold out. “It will be a whim, but it is an inspiration to the players and it is better than playing in front of an empty stand. We will work to make the stadium calm and quiet,” Thalhammer said before leaving for Scotland.
With their first participation in the European group stage, the home side is looking forward to a historic breakthrough. The Linz team, on the other hand, have recently played twice in the Europa League and have offered a strong performance, reaching the last 16 in 2019/20 and the most recent group stage in 2020/21.
“Great importance to both clubs”
“The game is extremely important for both clubs,” says Thalhammer. The ex-ÖFB women’s team boss hopes that more experience on European soil will eventually make a difference. “The team has a lot of experience at this level, for example in the play-offs with Sporting Lisbon last year against a really big opponent. So she knows what to expect and she looks forward to the game, The 50-year-old insisted.
It is positive that two defenders, Philippe Wissinger and Yanis Leterard, reported being fit in good time before the final training session. On the other hand, midfielder James Holland, who is not eligible to play as he was not named for the UEFA squad by Lingers, was not on the plane.
ECL play-offs, second leg
Thursday, 8 p.m.
St. Johnstone – LASK
Perth, McDiarmid Park, 8 p.m., SR Daniel Seibert / GER
Possible setup:
St. Johnstone: Clark – Kerr, Gordon, McCartt – Rooney, Davidson, McCann, Craig, Devine – O’Halloran, Kane
Lask: Schlager – Letterard, Wiesinger, Filipovic – Flecker, Hong, Michoral, Rainer – Goiginger, Karamoko, Bialik
First Stage: 1:1, the promoted team is in the group stage of the Conference League
In the first stage, the “athletes” at the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt were heavily owed. Mamoudou Caramoko compensated for the visitors’ early lead with a penalty (60th) exchanged by Chris Kane (17th). Overall, the draw was not disqualifying. “An extremely intense battle awaits us from the first minute. It will depend on which team can play football more intensely, and we should be,” Thalhammer said. Plus you have to force luck to play it once.
results recently unsatisfactory
This is extremely important, as a premature European Cup-out against an opponent who can be defeated on paper form would be a major setback. Some of this had already happened in the current league season. The start of Table VI can be described as a mixed one with only six points from five rounds showing only one win. Three competitive games – against Hartberg on Sunday 1:1 – Linzer meanwhile are without a win.
“We were always close to victory. If we take our chances, things will look very different. We have to live with it so that the buttons open for us, then victory will come to us,” said outside player Florian Flecker with certainty. The victory, and above all taking place on Thursday, is also important to silence criticism from outside, including the coach.
Thalhammer drops some “social media stories”
Thalhammer said, “I try to give the team the best possible support so that they can deliver a top performance, my person is no longer in the foreground, it is important for the whole club that we perform and eventually progress.”
There is always a certain amount of pressure on a coach. “It’s ‘part of the game’ so you are advised not to read some social media stories.” Incidentally, St Johnstone could not refuse at dress rehearsal either, losing 1–0 at home to Dundee United and are eighth with two points after three games.
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