European Football Championship - Summer fairytale for Austria? "Can get into a run"
In the Austrian team bus, the victory party for the Austrian team went off with a bang. The unavoidable "Sweet Caroline" blared from the speakers. The Austrian players hopped and sang along loudly. "Anyone who knows us Austrians well, knows we work hard but we also know how to party," had BVB pro Marcel Sabitzer announced after the spectacular 3:2 against the Netherlands at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Successes like the first place in the tough group with Orange and Vice World Champion France are to be enjoyed, "we don't do that often in football life because it never ends," said the 30-year-old.
The Austrians went wild, those who had their families visit at the hotel didn't join, but Leopold Querfeld, the new signing of Union Berlin, said the next day: "It was a nice, cozy evening that we enjoyed."
Everyone had slept enough, assured Patrick Wimmer from Wolfsburg. The team still had a lot ahead. On Thursday, Rangnick gives his players a break. Then the preparation for the quarterfinals against Turkey begins.
"You can also join a race sometimes"
After one of the bigger successes in Austrian football history, the question arises whether Team manager Ralf Rangnick will have to drop the secret weapon in favor of the favorite. Speaking of an Austrian summer fairy tale, it's still too early for Sabitzer to say.
But self-confidence is not lacking. "If you're in a knockout system, you can also join a race," said the Bundesliga pro. Austria has the quality to beat any opponent, "but it will be a very hard way."
With the surprising group win, the team is on the supposedly easier side of the tournament tree. After the quarterfinal in Leipzig on July 2 against Turkey, Belgium could wait again in the round of the last eight. The ways from the team quarters in Berlin's Grunewald would be short for both matches.
The squad depth is greater than expected
Rangnick could even leave the performance leaders Christoph Baumgartner and Konrad Laimer on the bench against the Dutch with a yellow card. Despite this, the Austrian team of the Austrian Football Federation (OEB) played brutally well as they had against Poland.
The squad with twelve Bundesliga professionals has depth. "The game showed that the breadth of our squad is a bit bigger than everyone thought, including myself," said the 65-year-old.
Even though there was a somewhat rough phase: over long phases of the game, the OEB team showed a very mature performance. "What impressed me most today was the reactions of my team to each equalizing goal," said Rangnick. The Austrian team cannot be reduced to pressing and switching football. In possession, they found good solutions again and again.
Sabitzer has refueled his energy
Central figure was Sabitzer. In the party video from the bus, he kept himself composed in the background, a few hours earlier he had been all over the grass of the Berlin Olympic Stadium. "I give my best to get there," Sabitzer, who was named player of the match, laughed.
The 30-year-old was relentless and the driving force behind many offensive actions. With the technically challenging game-winning goal from a sharp angle, he crowned his performance. The midfielder needed a short mental break after the great disappointment of Borussia Dortmund's lost Champions League final. "I had some ups and downs in the last months, where a lot happened," said the ÖFB vice-captain.
The 0:2 against Real Madrid was a "negative experience," but "I have regained strength," he explained. The team gives him support. "That allows me to play freely."
A better reception in Leipzig
In the round of 16, there is now a journey into Leipzig's past for the former RB professional, as for Rangnick and Laimer as well. The 30-year-old hopes for a better reception this time than last time, when he was booed due to his departure. "But surely many Austrians will be there, which will certainly be positive for me," he said.
Perhaps there will be the next party on the bus afterwards. Sabitzer himself values two Austro-Pop classics from Rainhard Fendrich above all. "If I had to rank them, I would say 'I am from Austria' and 'Strada del Sole'."
- Marcel Sabitzer, highlighted as BVB pro, celebrated Austria's victory with his teammates in the group stage of the EM in Berlin.
- The Austrian team, including Sabitzer, finished first in Group C, ahead of the Netherlands and Vice World Champion France.
- Sabitzer was named player of the match in the game against the Netherlands, scoring the decisive goal from a sharp angle.
- The Austria team, coached by Ralf Rangnick, will face Turkey in the round of sixteen of the European Football Championship.
- Austria's victory against the Netherlands was a significant achievement, with Sabitzer as a crucial player in the 3:2 win.
- Following their success, the Austrian team celebrated in the team bus, with "Sweet Caroline" being played loudly.
- Wolfsburg's Patrick Wimmer ensured that all players had enough rest, as they prepared for their upcoming match against Turkey.
- Former RB Leipzig player Konrad Laimer, along with Rangnick, will return to Leipzig for the round of sixteen match against Turkey.
- Leipzig supporters may give Laimer a better reception this time around, as he left the club in a contentious manner.
- Marcel Sabitzer expressed his desire to enjoy this success with his teammates, as they have not often experienced such impressive results in their football careers.
- Ralf Rangnick, looking ahead to the knockout stages, suggested that Austria has the capability to beat any opponent, despite facing a challenging path.
- Léopold Querfeld, a recent signee of 1st FC Union Berlin, observed the lively celebration that took place in the bus after the team's historic victory.
- Belgium is likely to be Austria's opponent in the quarterfinals, should they advance past Turkey, as they reside on the same side of the tournament bracket in the EM.
