International friendly: Austria vs Ukraine

New coach of Austria completes six months to the national team bench, and so far the team’s performances are positive. Firstly they had a very good performance in the 2-1 defeat away to Ukraine, and in the second friendly they won easy against Finland at home (3-1) after some good football. Now they have to play two friendlies, today against Ukraine and against Romania mext Tuesday, before their summer holidays. They need to do their final conclusions before September, as obligations for the World Cup qualifiers are starting, hoping to progress to the final stage in a group with Germany, Sweden and Ireland. Ukraine prepares for Euro 2012 and they have a much better team at this moment. Left-back Christian Fuchs (Schalke), central defender Emanuel Pogatetz (Hannover) and striker Martin Harnik (Stuttgart) are all missing for today. Top scorer of the league, striker Stefan Maierhofer (Salzburg) injured during training, and in its place was called Mattersburg striker Patrick Bürger, while the problem faced left-back Andreas Ulmer (Salzburg) left him out too, and in its place was called defender Martin Hinteregger (Salzburg). Key defender Franz Schiemer (Salzburg) is missing due to marriage.

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The friendly against Austria will not be the last one for Ukraine, as they will face also Turkey next Tuesday before the obligations for Euro 2012. Ukraine has three consecutive victories in the last friendlies, remaining undefeated for six games, with just a draw against the Germans (3-3). Last Monday they crashed Estonia 4-0 in Austrian territory, where they are prepared. Andrei Shevchenko commented on the situation in the camp of Ukraine, saying that they create many opportunities for goals, and that the team has improved a lot during the last two years. They have many quick and dangerous players at the moment, and it is the best that they prepare in Austria, because they feel less pressure than they would have at home. Here they are far from stress and they work without journalists. Blachin has all players available and it is possible to start with the same squad as the friendly against Estonia, with DeVito and Voronin in attack.

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