Two second-half goals from leading scorer Johannes Moser propelled Hermann Stadler’s team into the final, despite Italy controlling most of the possession at Al Rayyan’s Aspire Zone.

Before this tournament, Austria had exited at the group stage in their two previous appearances (Egypt 1997 and UAE 2013).

So far, they have exceeded their best performance in the cadet championship’s history. Yet, the 1860 Munich midfielder, who came on in the second half for Jakob Werner, believes the team can push further to capture the elusive trophy.

"It was a fantastic match. Italy are a very strong opponent, but we played excellently and ultimately achieved a great result," an elated Husic shared with Flashscore.

"We are prepared for the final and are eager to win this tournament."

Austria led a tough group featuring Mali, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia, winning all three games while scoring eight goals and conceding just once against the Junior All Whites.

They maintained their form through the knockout stages, defeating Tunisia, England, and Japan to set up a semi-final clash with pre-tournament favorites Italy, who had been unbeaten until then.

Husic expressed pride in Austria’s historic run and praised Moser’s influence and the squad’s depth despite missing key defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who was suspended for the semi-final.

He emphasized that the team’s collective strength has been vital in reaching their first-ever World Cup final.

"I am proud of myself and the entire team," he added.

"It’s an incredible feeling, and I’m so proud and happy for everyone. Moser has been outstanding and performed brilliantly during the group stage.

Regarding Ndukwe’s absence, he said: "Yes, we missed him against Italy, but we have other players ready to step up if anyone gets injured.

"There’s always someone available to fill in. We beat Italy, Japan, and others, and I believe we can win the title."

Austria will now face Brazil-defeating Portugal in Thursday’s final at Khalifa Stadium, guaranteeing a first-time champion for this tournament.

Italy captain laments missed opportunities

Conversely, Luca Reggiani blamed Italy’s loss on their failure to capitalize on clear chances.

Despite controlling 67% possession and creating two big opportunities, the Azzurrini were punished for their inefficiency in front of goal.

The Borussia Dortmund prodigy admitted the defeat was hard to accept and said the team will now focus on achieving a positive outcome in the third-place match against Brazil.

"We didn’t expect this, but that’s football, anything can happen. We will keep fighting," Reggiani told Flashscore.

"We played very well but missed some chances. Still, we are satisfied with our performance.

"We’re expected to hold our heads high because we know we’re a strong team, and we will aim to win the third-place match."

The Portugal versus Austria final on Thursday is only the third all-European final in the history of the tournament. England and Spain contested the first in 2017, while Germany and France met in the second final two years ago in Indonesia.