Was the disappointing 1-1 draw against Moldova in the Linz stadium five days before the much more important European Championship qualifier against Sweden in Stockholm just a warning shot at the right time or was it a subtle indication that the team is not that good and doesn’t have that much quality , as team boss Ralf Rangnick (pictured) has always predicted? To dismiss the weak performance, especially before the break, as just an industrial accident by the so-called second set would be a wrong and dangerous approach. Because the first didn’t actually play much better in the 2-1 win against Estonia in March. The happy victory with a late goal belied some idleness. The parallel to Moldova: Back then, captain David Alaba was only substituted on in the second half. Because Austria was 0-1 behind.
The claim that it would have been best not to play in front of Sweden at all simply ignores the facts. Because you just had to play. The ÖFB does not receive that little money thanks to UEFA’s central marketing and therefore has to play ten games a year. Also on dates that are not occupied by the European Championship qualification. The football association can choose its opponents itself. At Rangnick’s request, someone was chosen that Austria should actually have under control. And the Thursday date was chosen in order to have two days more regeneration than the Swedes before the game at the Friends Stadium in the Solna district of Stockholm. They will face Estonia in qualifying in Tallinn on Saturday. Rangnick’s assistant Lars Kornetka will be on site to observe. Three hours earlier, Belgium plays against Azerbaijan in Baku. Without great goalkeeper Thibault Courtois and midfield star Kevin de Bruyne. Courtois will not play again this year after tearing his cruciate ligament, and de Bruyne will not be able to play against Austria in the Happel Stadium in October due to a muscle injury in his thigh.
In his disappointment, Rangnick criticized some players harshly. Kevin Danso never remembered his strong last season, he had never seen him so weak. The team boss was annoyed about debutant David Schnegg’s fitness level because the 24-year-old left-back was flat in the finish. What shouldn’t happen at the beginning of a season. The four-man defense actually failed to build up the game in the first half. To be honest, there were hardly any play stations. The team boss himself would have to question whether it was wise to declare in advance that the most important thing in the game against Moldova was not to miss any shots for Stockholm. Not to do anything that could jeopardize success against Sweden. Surely these sayers have registered some players and prepared for it.
Rangnick is hoping for a new edition in November. A weak test in Marbella with a 1-0 win against Andorra, a few days later a remarkable 2-0 win against European champions Italy in the Happel Stadium. He certainly didn’t like losing in Vienna back then, but this game was about the famous golden pineapple, not about qualifying for a European Championship finals. So on Tuesday you can expect more fighting power and aggression from the Swedes with the home advantage than from the Italians ten months ago. Will Marko Arnautovic be able to shine in Stockholm like he did back then? In Linz you didn’t get the impression that he had the necessary fitness. He seemed anything but lively. TV viewer Herbert Prohaska noticed, among other things, that the Inter Legionnaire let almost every ball bounce and only received a few.
What impact does the disappointment in Linz have on the cast for Stockholm? Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, in defense Stefan Posch, captain David Alaba and Max Wöber can be seen as regular starters, Konrad Laimer in midfield despite the slack in Linz and Xaver Schlager and Marcel Sabitzer at the front, Michael Gregoritsch. Four positions remained open. The decision also depends on whether Austria starts in 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1. The offensive positions on the wings would have to be better staffed than against Moldova. That would speak for the fast Patrick Wimmer. He was absent on Thursday because he was ill the weekend before. Eleven days later, however, this should no longer play a role.
2023-09-08 18:00:09
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