Glasner Prepared to Dominate Wembley Stadium Following Six Decade Long Wait
Wembley's Unending Tale with Austria
Good ol' Wembley – home to England's national team and a stage ripped from Austrian football history. TheAKA "Wembley Toni," was introduced on October 20, 1965, when Austria, coached by Edi Frühwirth, secured a 3-2 victory over England, claiming their only win at the stadium. The Austrian newcomer, Toni Fritsch, netted a brace to pull off the memorable victory against Sir Alf Ramsey's team featuring Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton, who would later win the World Cup.
Eight years later, in 1973, the Austrian team, under Frühwirth, faced a far more troubling game. The team was mauled 0-7 in a disastrous outing against England. This game was clarified by a witty reporter's question to a stunned Leopold Stastny in the locker room: "Are you satisfied with the defense?" Stastny's deadpan response: "Do you want to knit?"
The same venue, in 1978, didn't yield much luck for Ernst Happel's team either, when they lost the European Cup final to Liverpool's 0-1. Compatriot Edi Krieger was part of Happel's roster.
Fast-forward to 2013, and two Austrian players – Paul Scharner and David Alaba – celebrated victories at Wembley. Scharner won the FA Cup against Manchester City, while Alaba claimed his first Champions League trophy with Bayern. Alaba was required to undergo a doping test after the match.
In 2021, Ralph Hasenhüttl and his assistant Richard Kitzbichler lost the FA Cup semi-final against Leicester with only 4,000 spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions. But this Saturday, it's all about Wembley magic for Oliver Glasner, Michael Angerschmid, Ronald Brunmayr, Emanuel Pogatetz and Crystal Palace. The team's mission? To reach the FA Cup final and create the club's first title win.
Wembley's life-long bond with the Austrian teams seems like a rollercoaster, filled with triumphs and painful encounters. Only time will tell if Crystal Palace will pen a new chapter in the Austrian-Wembley saga, etching their names in the hallowed grounds' rich history.
During the historic victory on October 20, 1965, Toni Fritsch, an Austrian newcomer, scored twice at Wembley to clinch a 3-2 win against Sir Alf Ramsey's team, securing a rare European-leagues profit for Austria. In a twist of fate, Crystal Palace, led by Oliver Glasner, Michael Angerschmid, Ronald Brunmayr, Emanuel Pogatetz, and others, aim to reach the FA Cup final this Saturday, potentially creating a new chapter in the Wembley-Austrian teams saga and etching their names in the stadium's illustrious history.
