Dejected, without euphoria
Ralf Rangnick grumbles after Austria’s next setback
10.09.2024, 13:33
For the entire group phase, anything seems possible for Austria. At the European Championships in Germany, Ralf Rangnick’s team fascinated an entire continent. Then came Turkey, the elimination and now the sadness. Things are rumbling in the neighboring country and Rangnick is not at all happy.
The summer’s European Championship euphoria has given way to September’s sadness in the Nations League for Ralf Rangnick and the Austrian national team. After two winless games at the start, the German coach and his ÖFB team are already under pressure early on. “At the Euros, we had the bitterness of the underdog,” said Rangnick after the 1:2 defeat against Norway in Oslo. “Nobody wanted to play against us. That hasn’t been the case in the last few games.” On Friday, they had only managed a 1:1 draw against Slovenia.
In the Norwegian capital, superstar Erling Haaland sealed the team from the Alpine Republic’s bad start with his goal. The striker’s goal was initially disallowed due to an alleged offside, but was then approved after a video review. Felix Horn Myhre (9th minute) had put Norway in the lead. Austria’s captain Marcel Sabitzer equalized (37th).
The ÖFB team’s declared aim is to return to the highest group in the Nations League, but the Austrians are currently only in third place. In October they will face Kazakhstan and again Norway. “Now we have to make sure we win the next home games, then everything is still possible,” said the 66-year-old former Bundesliga coach. “Overall, as a team, we have to be more aggressive against the ball and more determined with the ball.”
Alaba continues to be out
At the tournament in Germany, the Austrians sensationally prevailed in a difficult group with France and the Netherlands with this style of play. At home, a long-since unseen euphoria broke out. Even though the round of 16 exit against Turkey was a blow, Rangnick does not believe that they are suffering from a hangover from the European Championship.
The tense personnel situation is more crucial. “We are missing players who normally help us a lot with our style of play. But that doesn’t change the fact that we can do better anyway,” said the German. While central defender Kevin Danso and striker Michael Gregoritsch are candidates for an early return, the situation is less positive for injured key players such as David Alaba, Xaver Schlager and Sasa Kalajdzic. “A comeback by David Alaba in October is completely out of the question, or even one in November,” said Rangnick, adding that it is the same for Schlager and Kalajdzic. “The three of them will definitely not play for Austria this year.”
The goal remains the 2026 World Cup
RB Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner, one of Rangnick’s key offensive players, is also not back to 100 percent after his injury. “We defended well for long stretches, but we weren’t good with the ball. That was the problem, we didn’t create enough chances,” said the 25-year-old after the match in Oslo. In the end, it was a matter of centimeters. The heel of Union Berlin’s Leopold Querfeld ensured that Haaland was not offside. “He just needs one chance and he takes it,” said the 20-year-old.
“We have to accept this competition, even if it is only the third most important competition,” said Rangnick. Despite all the demands in the Nations League, the big goal is still the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Qualification for this does not begin until next March, when some key players should be back.