European Soccer Tournament - Interest in Alaba Draws Crowds: Austrians Practice in Berlin
The much-sought-after selfie buddy at the initial gathering of the Austrian national squad in Berlin was an injured athlete. Team captain David Alaba from Real Madrid penned numerous signatures at the Stadion am Wurfplatz immediately after the training started and agreed to snap pictures. The 31-year-old can only share his support for his team at the EM in Germany due to an injury while observing from the sidelines.
Training sessions were overseen by team trainer Ralf Rangnick, in the presence of Ambassador Michael Linhart. All players, including Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich) and Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), practiced short warm-ups, followed by a scrimmage on a smaller field. Spectators erupted in cheers during the training for scoring goals.
The ÖFB team landed in Berlin on a Wednesday. They will be accommodated at the Schlosshotel Berlin, where the German national squad with Jürgen Klinsmann stayed during the home World Cup in 2006.
The Österreichischer Fußball-Bund (ÖFB) team debuts on Monday night (9 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV) against vice world titleholder France at the tournament. The group matches against Poland and the Netherlands will occur on June 21st and 25th in Berlin.
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David Alaba, despite being injured, still attracted a crowd in Berlin due to his association with Real Madrid and the European Football Championship (EM). As Group D partners, Austria will face Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands in their EM matches, scheduled in Berlin. Alaba's teammate Konrad Laimer, from Bayern Munich, and Marcel Sabitzer, of Borussia Dortmund, also participated in the team's training sessions. During the training, spectators cheered as goals were scored, reminiscent of the 2006 World Cup, where the German national squad had stayed at the Schlosshotel Berlin.
