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.

After thirty five minutes of this match the USA could not have imagined how they could possibly not make into the last four of the FIFA under-20 World Cup. But two decisions by Austrian coach Paul Gludovatz turned the game in his team’s favour. The first move to bring on Harnik on the right side of midfield helped stem the attacks that the USA was mounting down that side. The second was to bring on striker Erwin Hoffer in extra time and he scored the winner with his first touch of the ball. 

For almost all of the first thirty five minutes the USA was very much in control of this game. The opening goal was well crafted and started with Bradley taking a quick free kick and pushing the ball out to the left. Rogers picked the ball up before springing Freddy Adu deep in the Austrian half. Adu then got behind the Austrian defense and send over a teasing out-swinging cross. Altidore held off two defenders and placed an inch perfect header down to the keeper’s right that bounced just inside the post.

The Austrian equalizer came from multiple errors. First of all Proedl was not closed down and allowed to shoot (even though he was far out the wet surface places a premium on blocking shots from any range). Then Seitz spilled the original shot to Okotie who was quick to follow up. Okotie was then able to outmaneuver one US defender before Valentin chose to stand off him and allowed the Austrian striker to get his shot off. Seitz was unable to keep the shot out as Okotie’s strike overpowered him low to the right. It was the second time in the half that Seitz spilled a shot and doubts about his fitness were confirmed as he became less and less mobile as the game progressed. 

In fact every time the Austrians lofted a ball into the USA penalty area there was confusion. Ironically it was probably the strength of Austria in the air that caused American coach Thomas Rongen to gamble on Seitz in preference to the smaller Brian Perk who had deputized in the win over Uruguay. However, with the mobility of Seitz compromised, the US lost one of his key strengths – his control of the penalty area.

Chances for the USA were limited in the second half and i####oal was to come it was more likely to come from Austria. Half way through the second half Sturgis had to clear off his line as the USA’s confidence visibly wilted. Ten minutes later and a double save from Seitz and the goal post saved the day again.

In extra time Freddy Adu missed a golden opportunity to put the USA into the lead after being played in beautifully by Dax McCarty. However, his touch around the Austrian keeper (who never looked confident but was rarely tested) produced a poor angle and the final shot went wide.

Then just three minutes later Anthony Wallace was given a second yellow card for an ill-considered challenge on Harnik. The resultant free kick was played in and never dealt with by the USA defense as it bobbled around and at one stage it clearly struck Michael Bradley on the arm. The left off was only temporary as the ball eventually broke to Hoffer as it rebounded off the goal post and he slid home the winner from six inches.

As the ten men US pushed forward Austria had numerous chances to sew the game up but failed to make the most of their opportunities. With six minutes left a free kick found Ferrari alone at the back post with the Austrian goal open and at his mercy. He failed to hit the target. The final USA chance fell to Freddy Adu who was left with the keeper to beat but Zaglmair stood his ground and deflected the shot wide.

Austria becomes the fifth team in nine knock out games to come from behind to win and they continue their quest to become the Greece of 2007. It’s amazing how far some grit, determination, good organization and a little bit of good fortune can take a team.