Rangnick is forced to improvise and thus gains the opportunity to take a closer look at other players in an emergency. The first two games in the Nations League in Slovenia and Norway may be a showcase for players who are not yet regular players.
Rise
This autumn, Austria will compete in League B of the Nations League against Slovenia, Norway and Kazakhstan. The declared goal is to move up to League A, where Austria has already competed against France, Croatia and Denmark under Rangnick. Patrick Wimmer: “The Nations League is a good stopover.” Alexander Prass emphasises: “We have to give the competition a lot of importance.”
World Cup qualification
The performance in the Nations League will, among other things, determine which pot Austria will be drawn from for the World Cup qualification for the 2026 finals in Canada, the USA and Mexico, which will begin in March 2025. Currently, Austria would still be classified in Pot 1.
euphoria
It is in the nature of things that even the most passionate fans have to gather themselves together after the highlight of the EURO and the elimination in the round of 16 and warm up again for the Nations League.
Although the air is not out, a breather is still allowed before the World Cup qualifiers. But not the team, which wants to continue to promote itself with good results and performances and ensure that the football euphoria continues.
rhythm
The game idea should and must be continued unabated, and automatisms must be fine-tuned.
Rangnick wants to subject the face he gave the Austrian national team to as few cosmetic treatments as possible so that Austria can present its best side in the World Cup qualifiers.
The declared and overarching goal is to participate in the 2026 World Cup.