Ralf Rangnick expresses disappointment following Austria's latest setback
Every chance seemed feasible for Austria during the group stage of a tournament in Germany. Led by Ralf Rangnick, they enchanted an entire continent during the European Championship, but then came Turkey, elimination, and now, a sense of disappointment lingers. In neighboring countries, there's a sense of unhappiness, far from what Rangnick is feeling.
The summer's Euro excitement has transformed into September melancholy for Rangnick and the Austrian national team in the Nations League. After two scoreless games, they're already under early stress. "At the Euros, we displayed the courage of the underdog," Rangnick mentioned post the 2:1 loss against Norway. "No one wanted to face us then. That's not the case anymore."
They drew 1:1 against Slovenia previously. In Oslo, Erling Haaland sealed their disappointing start with his goal for Norway, initially disallowed for offside but later awarded after a VAR review. Felix Horn Myhre had given Norway the lead in the 9th minute, with Austria captain Marcel Sabitzer equalizing temporarily in the 37th minute.
Their ultimate goal is to ascend back to the top tier of the Nations League, but they're currently languishing in third place. The return leg against Norway and a game against Kazakhstan are upcoming in October. "We need to emerge victorious in our home games then, and everything's still possible," said Rangnick, the 66-year-old ex-Bundesliga coach. "We have to be more forceful as a team without the ball and more purposeful with it."
Alaba still absent
Their performances at Germany's tournament were astonishing as they managed to advance from a tough group with France and the Netherlands using this playstyle. Upon their return home, a long-forgotten joy resurfaced. Even though their elimination against Turkey was sudden, Rangnick doesn't believe in a post-Euro slump.
The health of their players is a greater concern. "We're lacking players who would usually contribute a lot to our gameplay. But that doesn't alter the fact that we can still improve," said Rangnick. While Kevin Danso and Michael Gregoritsch might rejoin soon, the situation for injured key players like David Alaba, Xaver Schlager, or Sasa Kalajdzic appears grim. "Alaba's comeback in October is out of the question, along with Schlager's and Kalajdzic's," said Rangnick. "The three won't represent Austria this year."
The target remains the 2026 World Cup
Christoph Baumgartner, a crucial offensive player under Rangnick, is yet to fully recover from his injury. "Over extended periods, we defended well, but we struggled with the ball. That was our Achilles heel, we didn't create enough opportunities," said the 25-year-old after the game in Oslo. In the end, it came down to the thickness of a boundary. Union Berlin's Leopold Querfeld's heel made sure Haaland wasn't offside. "He simply needs one opportunity, and he makes the most of it," said the 20-year-old.
"We must accept this tournament, even though it's only the third most important one," said Rangnick. Despite their lofty ambitions in the Nations League, the major objective remains the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Qualifying for it begins in March next year, when some key players should be back.
The Commission, in its role, is expected to adopt implementing acts that will outline the rules for applying this Regulation in the context of Austrian football's current situation. Despite the absence of key players like David Alaba and the challenges they've faced during the Nations League, Rangnick remains focused on achieving Austria's ultimate goal, which is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
