Austria’s national soccer team has… Monday evening in bright sunshine Windischgarsten Preparations for the international doubles match in Linz began. At public training just before 1,000 spectators All 25 squad players stood, the team boss Ralf Rangnick invited, more or less intensively on the pitch – including the Venezia legionnaire Michael Svoboda, who was called up for the first time, and Marco Friedl, who returned to the team after more than two years.
The majority of the players who were still in league action on Sunday completed a regenerative program. In a group of 14 with the three goalkeepers Patrick Pentz, Alexander Schlagearound Niklas Hedl as well as Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer and others Christoph Baumgartner things were getting more serious. After completing the unit, Captain wrote Marko Arnautovic and Co. also signed autographs and posed for selfies.
After the botched start to the Nations League with only one point from the two games in Slovenia (1:1) and Norway (1:2), the Austrians are hoping Thursday in Linz against Kazakhstan and three days later there against the Norwegians for reparations. “We are happy about the opportunity to forget the last course,” said the Hoffenheim legionnaire Alexander Prass. “It’s important that we score fully now – ideally in both games. We want to make a good comeback.”
We knew what didn’t go well in September, emphasized Prass. “We weren’t as grippy as usual,” said the 23-year-old. “We didn’t get into the duels as well and weren’t as united as usual.” They want to change that in the two home games. “We want to bring the virtues that characterize us back onto the pitch. We want to play the football we stand for.” With a lot of pressure on the ball and high ball conquests.
“There’s certainly a bit of pressure after not-so-successful games,” explained Prass’ club colleague Florian Grillitsch. “Without beating around the bush: If we are in the… Nations League If we want to get into position, we have to win these games.” The midfielder described the start against the Kazakhs as: Rangnick as a “compulsory victory”. That is also the claim of the ÖFB team.
However, the facility at number 109 in the FIFA world rankings will not make things easy for the Austrians. “We will have a lot of possession, so we have to get more out of it,” said Grillitsch. “Nevertheless, we must not neglect the things that make us strong.” Namely the game against the ball. Grillitsch: “We’re all not happy with the two games. I’m optimistic. We’ll do better.”