Only in the pocket of the winner of Pool F is the ticket secured for the World Cup final, the other going to the play-offs. In this regard, the players of the team are waiting for a decisive week. The next game will be against the Faroe Islands (8.45 pm) at Happel Stadium on Sunday, followed three days later by group favorites Denmark (8.45 pm) in Prater, Vienna. After that World Cup qualification will not continue until September, before the European Championships will be held from June.

Foda described the group, which also includes two good friends from recent times with Israel under team owner Willy Rattensteiner and Moldova, as “Very balanced. Every game becomes a big challenge. Nonetheless, you have to set goals.” Our big goal and our dream is to be in the World Cup. We all have achieved our goals so far. We have already proved that we can stay away from home if everyone is playing with dignity. The team is hungry.” Qatar’s first move will be three points in Glasgow.

No points are required for the next three matches in German. “I’m not a fan of this. We want to try to win every game anyway.” If the start failed, nothing would be lost, said Foda, referring to the two defeats at the start of the previous European Championship qualification. There was criticism, but we kept calm and then made it,” the team boss said.

Scotland “high quality”

Whoever takes the field at Hampden Park will have to be prepared for a mighty team of hosts. Best evidence: Scotland fought their way through the play-offs to the European Championship final over Israel and Serbia and thus for a major event for the first time since the 1998 World Cup. “They are a high quality opponent, a very strong team that plays very long deliveries and goes for the second balls,” the 54-year-old said.

“Scotland is very compact on the defensive, they have scored very few goals, but they have also scored some runs. With Adams now he’s got a good striker. We know what to expect. We need strong and creative players who can strike the ball flat. We need depth against Scotland, which will be the key to success,” said Foda, alongside Premier League legends Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), John McGuin (Aston Villa) and Scott McTominay (Manchester United). Special warnings for .

While the latter plays in the English record champion’s middle midfield, until recently she was used regularly in the national team’s three-woman defense. Foda admits that this won’t change on Thursday either. “And if so, we’re ready.” There is also a lot of confidence in your own strength, with all due respect to the opponent. Foda: “We know what to expect, but we also have quality. We showed that in the European Championship qualification and the Nations League.”

Three digits no more “what if”

Speaking of League of Nations: by winning the group in the League of Nations, FB selection can actually reach World Cup qualification relatively comfortably. Regardless of the result in World Cup elimination, you will have a play-off spot in your pocket if the four teams from the quintet France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Wales finish in either first or second place in their qualifying group. But Foda has no desire to speculate. “I didn’t think about it at all. Now it’s important that we do well in terms of qualification. Our aim is to come straight into the World Cup first place and not deal with ‘what if’, said the team boss. .

The OFB team has the most recent record for a successful start in Glasgow. The Austrian selection has won in his last four appearances overseas. Last year, Norway (2:1), Northern Ireland (1:0) and Romania (1:0) had victories in the Nations League, and they got the upper hand in the Test in Luxembourg with 3:0. The last defeat so far was in the European Championship qualification on 19 November 2019. With 0:1 in Latvia, however, it fell into the category of embarrassment – ​​although a B-team was in action after participating in the European Championship three days earlier.