This game may have only produced a single goal but it was entertaining throughout as both sides contributed to an excellent game of football. Austria settled more quickly into the game and it took Chile fifteen minutes or so to establish their usual pattern to the game.

Both goalkeepers were forced into some excellent saves in the first half but when the goal came it was from an unlikely source. As the first half moved into injury time a Chile cross was swung into the penalty area where centre back Hans Martinez connected from about ten yards out. Hit with accuracy more than power it was still enough to give Chile a half-time lead. A defender on the left post would have cleared the ball but there was none to be found.  

The start of the second half mirrored that of the first with Austria out of the gate more quickly. Okotie cracked one of Chile’s crossbar and when the rebound fell to Harnik his shot forced a great toe save out of Toselli.

Five minutes later Austrian centre back Madl was sent off for a second yellow card but Austria continued to press forward. However, with a more predictable and slow build up they did not create as many clear-cut chances as they should have.

In turn Chile looked to the counter attack and on more than one occasion they should have put the game beyond any shadow of doubt. Peralta was particularly at fault when he was clean through with only Lukse in the goal to beat. After pushing the ball wide Peralta was about to pull the trigger when the Austrian keeper picked the ball of his toe.

But there was still more drama left in this one. With only two minutes to go Austrian substitute Martin Harnik finally beat Toselli only for Martinez to save the day. He was able to block the ball on the ball and as it spun in the air back towards the goal line Toselli recovered to paw the ball away.

This was an unexpectedly good game with some excellent defending from both sides. Goalkeepers Lukse and Toselli produced some top-drawer saves while at the heart of the Chile defense the underrated Martinez and Larrondo were again outstanding. Both come from the Carlos Gamarra School of Defending that emphasizes the minimum of fuss and desperation. And finally a mention to Austrian captain Sebastian Proedl. The Sturm Graz centre back has already been capped for the full national team and we can be certain that will see more of him next summer as Austria co-host Euro 2008.

Oh and Padraig Harrington just beat Sergio Garcia in a play off at the British Open.   

Two goals in the opening fifteen minutes of this game killed any remote chance there might have been that this semi final could have turned out to be a memorable match for the neutrals.

Missing two of their normal starting defenders (Madl suspended, Panny injured) and their defensive midfielder Michael Stanislaw (suspended) Austria had a mountain to climb before the players had even caught their second wind.

Micola scored for the Czech Republic with less than five minutes gone and Fenin had the easiest of tap-ins to put the game beyond Austria’s reach. Two goals down Austria seemed unable to change their tactics as the midfield stayed deep isolating lone striker Erwin Hoffer.

Austrian coach Paul Gludovatz tried to shuffle his hand in the second forty five minutes but the Czechs were just too well organized and resolute to give-away a two goal lead. At the end of ninety minutes the Austrians had only achieved one shot on target.

The Czech Republic now awaits the winner of the other semi final between Chile and Argentina set for Thursday night in Toronto. 

(EDMONTON, CANADA)

Austria vs. Czech Republic

Time (EST), date & location – 19:45, July 18 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton

Few would have picked Austria or the Czech Republic to make it to the last four of the FIFA under-20 World Cup let alone both of them. Neither country arrived at the tournament with much of a pedigree at the youth level.

Past Performance

It is only Austria’s third trip to the finals and in 1977 they finished 15th while six years they dropped down a place. For the Czech’s it is a 5th appearance in their present guise or as the former Czechoslovakia. The best performance before this tournament was quarter final loses in 1983 and 2001.

How they reached the semi-final

During the group stage both countries continued to fly under the radar. Austria recorded one win (1-0 over Canada), drew with Congo (1-1) and with eventual group winners Chile (0-0).

The Czech’s started with a 0-0 draw against Argentina in Ottawa and then allowed a 2-1 lead to disappear as North Korea equalized late in the game. It meant the last game against Panama was a must-win in order to ensure a place in last eight. It was mission accomplished as the Czech’s recorded their only win in regulation time in their five matches so far.

Both qualified as second place finishers and while Austria drew the Gambia (runners up in group C) the Czech Republic had the much tougher task in facing group F winners Japan.

Austria progressed after a late goal from substitute Erwin Hoffer broke a 1-1 draw against 10-man Gambia. Later that same evening the Czech’s were 2-0 down early in the second half to Japan before two penalty kicks inside a three minute drew then level. Extra time went scoreless and the game was decided on penalty kicks.

It was déjà vu in the quarter final as the Czech’s once again won on penalty kicks - this time over Spain. Despite being under sustained pressure the Czech’s took a shock lead in extra time before Spain finally drew level. But once more the Czech’s kept their nerve as Spain missed twice.

After conceding an early goal to the USA in their quarter final match, the Austrians rallied to draw level before half time. A key move late in the first half by Austrian coach Paul Gludovatz helped to turn the game. Right midfielder Bernard Morgenthaler was replaced by Martin Harnik and suddenly the USA were on the back foot.

In extra time Gludovatz made his second decisive move when Hoffer was brought into the game and this time he scored the winner with his first touch of the ball.

Goalkeeping

Austria used three goalkeepers in the first three matches and all through choice rather than injury. Michael Zaglmair started the first game against Congo before being replaced by Andreas Lukse for the match against Canada. Despite recording a clean sheet Lukse returned to the bench and his spot was taken by Bartolomej Kura for the game against Chile.

Perhaps Kuru wasn’t surprised when he was dropped after blanking Chile and back came Zaglmair for the knock out round games against the Gambia and USA.  

There has been no such shuffling of keepers for the Czech Republic with Radek Petr playing all 510 minutes of the tournament. What is more he has faced 12 penalty kicks over the five games and has saved three of them.

Edge – Czech Republic

Defense

Both teams have been pretty settled as far as the back four is concerned. Austria has relied on the centre back pairing of Sebastian Proedl and Michael Madl to shore up the defense and they have been very effective. Proedl even chipped in with a goal against the Gambia. However, Madl picked up a second consecutive yellow card against the USA and will be suspended. No team has scored more than a goal against Austria and in five games they have recorded two shut outs.

On the other hand the Czech Republic’s only clean sheet came against Argentina in their opening game in which they were badly outplayed. In all they have conceded six goals in five games which isn’t overly impressive. Czech Coach Miroslav Soukop has also looked to a core of defenders. Lukas Kuban, Marek Suchy and Jan Simunek have played in all five games.

Edge – If Austria had Madl available defense would go in their favour but his absence will be difficult to overcome. Call it even.

Midfield

Michael Stanislaw has been a stand-out as a defensive midfielder for the Austrians. If he hasn’t been winning tackles and driving the team forward he has been plugging the passing lanes and intercepting passes. An ever present up to now but Stanislaw has also run into yellow card trouble and will miss the game.

Martin Harnik has shown that he can torment with his strong running and dribbling while Zlatko Junozovic has been a real work horse. Listed as a midfielder Junozovic has been tasked to get forward and support the normal lone Austrian striker.

Five of the seven Czech goals have come from midfield players with Lubas Kalouda scoring three alone. Others to watch for in an exceptionally hard working midfield are Ondrej Kudela and Petr Janda. 

Edge – With Stanislaw in the Austrian starting eleven this would have been a much tighter call. Without Stanislaw the Czech Republic gets the nod.

Attack

Erwin Hoffer started all three group games for Austria but the striker was relegated to the bench for the last two matches against the Gambia and the USA. It didn’t seem to faze him as both times he entered the game and scored the winner. Against a strong physical Czech side there is no reason to think that Austria will change the tactic. It will be a surprise if Rubin Okotie (2 goals) does not start in the lone striker role. He is strong in the air and a willing worker. However, his finishing could be much better.

On paper the Czech’s have the more impressive forwards but so far it has not necessarily shown in goal scored. Marek Strestik’s pre-tournament billing was impressive but at present he has collected twice as many yellow cards (2) as goals. Spurs Tomas Pekhart has yet to score in regulation or extra time and Martin Fenin has looked to be the best of the bunch.

Edge - Austria

Coaching & Intangibles

Both teams must be feeling good about their progress to the last four. The coaches have done what they are paid to do - to produce the best possible team with the players available. Gludovatz and Soukup have instilled a tremendous spirit in their sides and tactically they have been outstanding.

The Czech’s have had the tougher road and will enjoy the confidence boost of coming back from two goals down to beat Japan as well as winning twice on penalties. When the two teams met in last summer’s Euro qualifying the Czech Republic won 3-1.

Edge – Czech Republic

Prediction – the Czech Republic to win 2-1.

Notes

We are guaranteed a Europe vs. South America final. It will be the fifth such match-up in sixteen finals. The previous finals were Argentina vs. USSR (1979), Brazil vs. Spain (1985 & 2003) and Portugal vs. Brazil (1991).

Sergio Aguero (Argentina) and Adrian Lopez (Spain) are currently tied as top scorers with five goals.

There is the possibility that the final match will be a repeat of one of the group games. Earlier Chile played Austria and Argentina played the Czech Republic but both games finished scoreless.

 In 1962 the then Czechoslovakia made it all the way to the final of the World Cup and played Brazil twice as well. They drew 0-0 in the group stage and lost the final 3-1.