Whereas they’re celebrating, Austrian soccer champions SK Sturm Graz have already reached the Champions League. Graz’s major sq. needed to be closed yesterday a couple of hours earlier than the celebration of the “Schwoazen” competitors attributable to overcrowding. As befits their standing, Sturm’s gamers had been pushed by way of the streets of Graz metropolis middle in a convertible bus so they may take pleasure in being within the crowd. In any case, it is not day-after-day you change into an Austrian soccer hero.
Picture: GEPA images
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Picture: GEPA images
The Styrians have been ready for this second since 2011 – to start out the marathon celebration that lasts a number of days after the 2-0 residence win towards Austrians Klagenfurt. Not solely distinctive: Even earlier than the official celebration started, there was a ceremony within the city corridor. The gamers had been allowed to register within the Golden Guide of the town of Graz. Nevertheless, the Champions League matches won’t be performed in Graz. Because the Merkur Area not meets the UEFA standards and there’s no political resolution, the highest class matches should be performed in Klagenfurt within the autumn.
As anticipated, the day earlier than within the 2-0 victory over Klagenfurt, the final step within the championship title was one of the crucial tough. It was solely after 70 minutes that the large shocks ended with Gregory Wüthrich making it 1-0.
The title was greater than deserved. Ultimately, it did not matter to anybody in Graz that, with out the division of factors after the preliminary spherical, the title would have gone to Salzburg for the eleventh time in a row. Sturm coach Christian Ilzer immediately received the most effective out of his group at residence. The fundamental assumption about Graz – in addition to LASK – was right: If Salzburg might be cracked within the title struggle for as soon as, it will be this 12 months.
