ÖFB young stars in demand

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Rapid's Jovan Zivkovic (right) wants to go to the European Championships with the U19s.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Austria's U17s and U19s start the elite round for the European Championship on Wednesday. Coach Martin Scherb's squad will play three games in Wr. Neustadt, while coach Oliver Lederer and his U19s will play in the mini-tournament in Slovenia. The Viennese faction around Austria and Rapid are fully involved in both teams. 

The players' every wish has been fulfilled at the Lindabrunn Sports School, and Red-White-Red are already familiar with the training conditions - and they are also spared the hassle of traveling. Austria's U17s are off to a great start in the elite round for the European Championships in Cyprus in May. Slovenia await at the start on Wednesday (12) in Wr. Neustadt. "We will need the support of the fans to prevail in this strong group," says team boss Martin Scherb.

He will also be relying on the Viennese players Julian Höller and Philipp Maybach (both Austria) as well as Philipp Moizi, Ensar Music, Luis Pfluger, Eaden Roka and Daniel Mahiya (all Rapid). "All of them have performed very well, Roka and Music are regulars. "But we will need every player." They face Norway on Saturday and Spain three days later - all games will also take place in Wr. The group winners and the seven best runners-up qualify for the European Championship. "Participation in the EURO is of course our big goal!" says Scherb.

Austrian Luca Pazourek (left) gets the ball rolling against Kosovo.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

While the U19s with coach Oliver Lederer will also start the elite round for the European Championship in Northern Ireland in July against Kosovo at the mini-tournament in Slovenia on Wednesday. Kenan Jusic, Luca Pazourek and Dejan Radonjic (all Austria) as well as Furkan Dursun, Benjmamin Göschl, Mücahit Ibrahimoglu and Jovan Zivkovic (all Rapid) will be among the players from the capital's clubs.