Europeada: The teams from South Tyrol are ready

Hannes Kröss from Brixen

Both selections will set off for Lausitz on Friday afternoon, where the first game of the group phase of the European Championship for Linguistic Minorities is scheduled for Sunday evening. The Ladins will meet the North Frisians at 15 p.m., while the South Tyroleans will play against the Hungarian Germans at 19 p.m.

“It’s nice that we Ladins can be there with our own team this year. “We will do everything we can to stay in the tournament for as long as possible,” said Giorgio Costabiei, team leader of the Ladin selection. As the tournament continues, the Ladins, who are coached by Patrick Dapunt, will also meet the Croatians in Serbia and the Turks in Greece.

South Tyrol only in groups of three Andreas Vieider, on the other hand, is the sporting director of defending champion South Tyrol. “Winning the title is a very ambitious goal. Our opponents know that they cannot underestimate us this time. Four years ago we had a very experienced team, this year we have a young team that is physically very fit. Our goal is to get as far as possible. And we want to become the most popular team, so we also want to shine off the pitch and be ambassadors for South Tyrol,” said the sports journalist.

South Tyrol - here Manfred Villgrater and Thomas Piffrader will be on the sidelines - only plays in a group of three because the Germans in Denmark have withdrawn their entry. “We are under a bit of pressure and have to finish first in the group so that we can qualify for the knockout phase. The second game against Karachai in particular will be difficult, even though we swept them 4-0 in Graubünden four years ago. At that time they were physically exhausted because they had a very small squad,” continued Vieider.

The captain of the South Tyrolean team is Roland Harrasser. “It is a great honor for me to be able to take part in this tournament as captain and to lead our team onto the field. Our strength is certainly that we got along really well as a group straight away,” said the defender from Serie D club St. Georgen, who has the most players in the domestic selection with six players.

Ladins want to surprise people If the two South Tyrolean representatives survive the group phase, they will play the quarter-finals on Thursday, the semi-finals and the final on Friday, and the game for third place is on the program on Saturday.

“Come back with a trophy in your hand, the best would of course be with first and second place,” joked state governor Luis Durnwalder at the press conference on Wednesday. It is important for minorities to meet and exchange ideas, “not just at a congress, but also at sporting events. “But what is much more important than sporting success is that you represent us South Tyroleans as we are: self-confident, likeable and very communicative,” said the state governor. “We also like you when you come home without a trophy,” Durnwalder concluded, but then took the pressure off the two teams.

"We bring home the winner"

“It's great that Ladin people from all the valleys are taking part in this Europeada. I wish you a great time, especially that you return safe and healthy. And when it comes to sports, we Ladins are always good for a surprise,” said Regional Councilor Florian Mussner.

Regional assessor Martha Stocker is there in Lausitz. Not only will she attend the two games on Sunday, the politician has announced, she will also be back in Lausitz on Saturday and watch the final and the game for third place. Stocker assumes that she will see at least one team from South Tyrol. “I am sure we will bring home the winner. With two participating teams it has to work out,” concluded the Vice President of FUEN (Federal Union of European Nationalities).

Whether Stocker will ultimately be right with her daring prediction will be known by Saturday, June 23rd at the latest, when the final whistle blows in Bautzen.

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Europeada: The teams from South Tyrol are ready

Four days before the start of the Europeada in Lusatia (Saxony/Germany), the two teams – South Tyrol and the Ladin team – were presented to the press on Wednesday. Both selections not only want to shine in sport, but above all to be a “likeable ambassador for our homeland”.

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