Austria and the Czech Republic know plenty about each other, with close ties being forged down the years due to their close proximity, but all neighbourly thoughts will go out of the window at the Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday when they meet in the FIFA U-20 World Cup semi-final.
The game
Austria v Czech Republic, Edmonton, 18 July, 17.45
(local time)
The stakes
A place in the Final on 22 July against either
Chile or Argentina beckons for the winner. If Austria emerge
victorious, they will make the trip between Edmonton and Toronto
for the fifth time, while the Czechs would be making their first
visit to the National Soccer Stadium venue.
The players
Austria defender Thomas Panny suffered a fractured fibula in
final training and is therefore out for the rest of the tournament.
The Austrians also have defender Michael Madl and midfielder
Michael Stanislaw suspended after they collected their second
yellow cards of the knock-out phase in the quarter-final win
against USA. Austria coach Paul Gludovatz says he may rest other
players who are on one caution and midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic is
carrying a slight knock. Czech Republic's Tomas Oklestek is
gradually recovering from a shoulder injury but may not be fit to
face Austria. Petr Janda has an ankle knock and Lukas Kuban has a
groin strain but Jakub Mares returns from suspension for the
Czechs.
The past
Austria and Czech Republic faced each other a year ago at the
finals of the UEFA European U-19 Championship in Poland, where the
Czechs won 3-1. The two nations also clashed in the first round at
the FIFA U-20 World Youth Championship Mexico 1983, when the former
Czechoslovakia won 4-0.
The words
"It will be a very different match to the one we played
against USA in the last round. I expect it to be difficult because
we have two players suspended and others on a yellow card. The
Czechs are in the same situation as Austria because this is like
the game of the century for both of us."
Paul Gludovatz, Austria coach
"Just because we played defensively against Spain does not mean we are a defensive team. Other people might say we are too defensive but they said that about Greece during Euro 2004 and they went on to win the championship. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. I don't know if we will play more offensively against Austria." Miroslav Soukup, Czech Republic coach
"I don't feel any extra pressure when I come off the bench. I always give 100 per cent whether I start the game or I come on a substitute because I always want to score." Erwin 'Jimmy' Hoffer, Austria forward
"It will be tricky against Austria. When we took on Spain we were the underdogs but perhaps we will be the favourites now because last year we beat them at the European Championship, so I guess people will expect us to do it again." Tomas Pekhart, Czech Republic forward
