Undefeated underdog? Vikings extra motivated in the ELF final

The Vienna Vikings Hunt for history on Sunday!

With a victory in the ELF final over Rhein Fire (Sunday, from 3:30 p.m. in the LIVE ticker and on Puls24, ORF Sport+), Head Coach Chris Calaycay’s team could not only complete a perfect season – without a single defeat (!) – but also become the first team to win a second title in the still young European League of Football.

However, Rhein Fire is a stronger opponent, who had a perfect season last season, marched to the title without a loss, and has only lost one game so far this year.

“We have enough to beat Rhein Fire,” said Head Coach Chris Calaycay during a media round, which also LAOLA1 Most people, especially the German media, see Rhein Fire as the favorites.

Why the Vikings are underestimated in Germany

The head coach of Rhein Fire is Jim Tomsula, a well-known name. The 56-year-old American was the first head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. They also have one of the most dynamic players in the league in star running back Glen Toonga, who has already scored 31 touchdowns this season.

“I think we are underestimated by the media,” explains Calaycay. “They said we had the easiest opponents, a bad conference and that we are not as good as everyone thought. But there are facts: We are undefeated in two regular seasons in a row.”

The 48-year-old believes he knows why Rhein Fire is favored from outside: “On TV broadcasts in Germany, German teams are naturally featured more. Germany is of course the big brother of Austria. That’s part of it. Our boys are naturally a little spurred on.” We want to prove ourselves through this.

This Vikings squad will make history in the ELF final

It is possible even without NFL experience

Although the two best teams in the ELF are facing each other, the game between Rhein Fire and the Vienna Vikings is also a duel of opposites. While the Germans tend to rely on American expertise, the Vikings bleed red-white-red – and have done so for many, many years.

“We are a special organization,” said Calaycay. “I have known Luis Horvath since he was nine years old, Aleks Milanovic since he was twelve years old. I have already coached many players on the national team, I have the national team head coach (Max Sommer) here as offensive coordinator. Nick Johansen is my only American coach and I have a Finnish special teams coordinator with Marianne Pahkala. Over there (at Rhein Fire) they have ex-NFL coaches.

“But both paths can work,” says Calaycay, citing the final pairing as proof. Nevertheless, he would never trade his place: “I’ve been here for 20 years and I love it. Now we’re trying to write history together.”

Both teams can make history. Whether it’s the Vienna Vikings or the Rhein Fire, the winner of the final can definitely call themselves the new record champion of the European League of Football.

Home advantage for Rhein Fire in Gelsenkirchen

However, the backdrop of the final venue is likely to play into the hands of the German final opponent. More than 40,000 spectators are expected in the Arena auf Schalke in Gelsenkirchen, the majority of whom will probably support Rhein Fire.

“We are playing in Germany against a German team, which will also be very loud. This is our chance to show what we can do on a stage like this,” said Calaycay. “Our focus is on execution and on doing our job. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the biggest stage with 50,000 spectators or a regular season game. There’s no big difference. It’s 100 yards, two end zones, two field goals and the hash marks.

And it’s not as if the Vikings have only played in empty arenas with no noise. In the semifinal against Paris, for example: “The defense couldn’t hear anything last week because it was so loud in the Generali Arena,” said Calaycay.

“At the end of the day, it’s just football”

Quarterback Ben Holmes knows that the mood in Gelsenkirchen will be different: “It will be a different atmosphere. We know that there may be some nervousness here and there. But we know that at the end of the day we are just playing football.”

The Vikings see themselves as well prepared for the final. “We are healthier than ever,” says the head coach. “The flood disaster that hit Lower Austria and parts of Vienna last week has only had a minor impact on preparations for the final.

Nothing should stand in the way of a great finale.

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