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08. 02. 10. - 16:00

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08. 02. 10. - 16:00

Austria to play friendlies against Denmark and Croatia

Austrian Football Federation (ÖFB) officials today (Mon) announced three friendly fixtures for this and next year.

The national team will meet Denmark at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on 3 March before playing Croatia on 19 May at Klagenfurt’s Wörther Lake Arena.

Tickets for the match against Denmark went on sale this morning, while sales of tickets for the Croatia game start on 29 March.

ÖFB also announced today that the national team – which failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup – will play against the Netherlands on 9 February 2011. Officials said a venue for the match has not been agreed on yet, but Amsterdam is expected to be the location.

The news comes a day after Austria was seeded to play against Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in Euro2012 qualification, which starts in September.

National team coach Dietmar Constantini said: "With Germany and Turkey, we have got two top seeded teams and Belgium will be a good opponent. It seems unrealistic that we will come first in this group, but this is what we want to achieve."

Only the group winners will directly qualify for the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, while second-placed teams will clash in a play-off round.

ÖFB President Leo Windtner said he was happy about the seeded opponents since Germany and Turkey traditionally draw huge crowds.

Austrian Times

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