Storm's celebrity fans

Pizzera is convinced: “We will be champions!”

Paul Pizzera and EAV mastermind Thomas Spitzer (right) were already at Sturm's Cup celebrations on Hauptplatz last year.(Bild: Sepp Pail)

Sturm can be crowned double winners on Sunday - and alongside thousands of Styrian soccer fans, many celebrities are also eagerly awaiting the title showdown against Klagenfurt

Styria is in soccer fever! Two weeks after GAK secured promotion back to the top flight, Sturm can crown itself Austria's top soccer team. "Only" Austria Klagenfurt still stands between the Black & Whites and complete happiness in the form of a cup win and championship title.

The closer Sunday gets, the more nervous thousands of "Sturm-Knofel" across the country become - at many regulars' tables there is only one question that dominates everything: "Do we think we can do it?" For Paul Pizzera, the answer is clear: "We'll be champions! And with what? By right! I'm grateful to my Blacks that they've moved the celebration from Linz to the home game against Klagenfurt, because I'll be there in the curve again, of course."

Gert Steinbäcker wrote the Sturm anthem "Steiermark".(Bild: GEPA)

Gert Steinbäcker will not be in the stadium this time. "I'll be watching the match on TV with my friend and former Sturm doctor Peter Wasler - including the odd expert commentary," smiles the Austropop legend. His "Steiermark" has become a kind of Sturm anthem. "And I would be delighted if it could be played particularly loudly on Sunday around 7 pm."

Nici Schmiedhofer (left, with Sturm board member Susanne Gorny) will be at the title final live on Sunday.(Bild: GEPA)

Former ski world champion Nici Schmidhofer is already feeling a little nervous. She is currently training to become a masseuse, but will of course be watching the "final" live. "It was already very nerve-wracking against Hartberg and LASK, and now it's sure to be even worse. But the lads have what it takes and have already proven this year that they can also win finals."

Downhill World Cup winner Conny Hütter is of course keeping her fingers crossed for Sturm.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Fellow skier and downhill World Cup winner Conny Hütter is also keeping her fingers crossed for Alexander Prass & Co. - she is relying on a Styrian "recipe for success": "I won the World Cup this year with pumpkin seed oil on my body, the boys will win the double with it. Our Styrian secret recipe is unbeatable, and they're already having a fantastic season."

Eagerly awaiting Sunday: Former provincial governor Hermann Schützenhöfer (right, with Sturm vice-president Peter Schaller).(Bild: Sepp Pail)

Former provincial governor Hermann Schützenhöfer describes himself as a lifelong Sturm fan, "because Sturm is not a religion, but a way of life". He goes to the stadium with great respect: "Because a final like this is a big mental thing. But I sincerely hope for the double."

Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl (pictured with Sturm boss Christian Jauk) is counting on help from above on Sunday.(Bild: DIözese Graz-Seckau)

As in the Cup final against Rapid, Sturm can once again count on help from above, as diocesan bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl is also keeping his fingers crossed: "I've had my fingers crossed for this game for a long time, I'll be keeping both fingers crossed - and I'm sure there will also be one or two prayers."