Austria’s journey through Euro 2020 has taken an unexpected turn, leading them to the brink of uncharted territory. Their upcoming last 16 clash against Turkey presents a unique challenge: the possibility of a penalty shootout. While the team has successfully navigated through the group stages, a penalty shootout scenario is something they have never faced at a major finals.
The absence of four key defenders from training on Friday further adds to the challenge. Gernot Trauner, sidelined with a thigh injury, and Philipp Mwene, battling a head cold, were unable to participate. Meanwhile, Philipp Lienhart and Leopold Querfeld trained individually, indicating their availability remains uncertain.
The team’s training session reflected the growing importance of penalty preparation. Midfielder Florian Grillitsch revealed that every goal scored during the session had to be “confirmed” by a successful penalty. This unique rule aimed to recreate the pressure and intensity of a shootout, something that, according to Grillitsch, is difficult to replicate during normal training.
Despite the absences and the new pressure, Austria’s focus remains on securing a victory against Turkey. A win on Tuesday would see them progress to the quarterfinals, facing either Romania or their recent conquerors, the Netherlands.
The team’s determination to overcome this unfamiliar territory is evident. The serious work began on Friday, with a heightened focus on spot kicks. The intensity of the training session reflects their commitment to being fully prepared for any eventuality, including the possibility of a penalty shootout that could decide their fate in the tournament.
