Team boss Ralf Rangnick and his players were largely positive about the 2024 international match year. Even if it was only a 1-1 draw against Slovenia at home and not enough to win the group and get promoted to the Nations League.
Even if the record of nine wins in a calendar year was given away, it was still enough to set the record of eight wins from 1982.
The protagonists are in good spirits when they think about the year 2025. The play-offs in the Nations League for promotion to League A and then World Cup qualification are on the agenda.
“If we keep playing like this, I am very confident that we will qualify for the World Cup, especially because our long-term injured players (note: David Alaba, Xaver Schlager, Sasa Kalajdzic) will be available again next year,” said Rangnick.
No test games
Rangnick suspected that the fact that the play-offs will be played against a third party from League A next March could even have positive effects. “I say this with a slight hint of cynicism: there is something good about it too. Now we don’t need to look for two strange international opponents, but rather have two competitive games that might be an advantage for qualifying.”
The opponent in the Nations League relegation will be determined on Friday in Nyon, Austria will play the first game in front of their home crowd. The ÖFB will be represented on site at this draw. In contrast to that of the World Cup qualifying groups on December 13th in Zurich.
“It’s strange, this is done online to save money. However, there is an obligation to be present for the play-off draw. I don’t understand the logic behind it,” explained Rangnick.
The game is played in twelve groups of four or five teams each. If Austria is drawn into a group of four, the games will not take place until September, October and November.