Football: Austria Squad with Alaba and Schlager
Austria's football team coach Ralf Rangnick is avoiding experiments in the crucial World Cup qualifiers. David Alaba is included despite his recent calf issues, and Xaver Schlager returns after recovering from a muscle injury. Otherwise, compared to the October squad, there is only one newcomer with Elversberg goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof. The Austrian team will fight on November 15 away against Cyprus and on November 18 in Vienna against Bosnia for their first World Cup participation since 1998.
Football World Cup 2026 with Austria?
The ticket could already be secured with a victory against Cyprus, provided that the Bosnians do not achieve a home win against Romania about three hours later. "In general, the '2-4-6 formula' applies," as Rangnick emphasized: "Regardless of whether we get two, four, or six points from the two matches - it leads to us being group winners in the end." Austria leads the table in Pool H two rounds before the end, two points ahead of Bosnia and five points ahead of Romania. The first place travels to the World Cup in North America next year, while the second place enters the play-off.
Against Cyprus, Phillipp Mwene and Alaba are missing, both are suspended. The latter was injured on October 19 and has not played a game since, also because he had to accept a minor setback in his recovery process. "We have to see if he could make it for the second game. He is not yet in team training, but there is definitely a chance for him to play against Bosnia," explained Rangnick.
Schlager has returned to play, but the Leipzig professional has never been on the field for more than a half since his comeback. "We will have to see during the week if it makes sense for him to start against Cyprus. We also have to keep in mind that there is another game afterwards," said the national coach.
Kristof also in Austria squad
The only newcomer in the squad is Kristof, who, according to Rangnick, earned his call-up through regular appearances for the current German second division third-place team Elversberg. "He is included for training organizational reasons, but also to see how he presents himself compared to the other goalkeepers."
Rangnick will call his players to training for the first time next Monday in Paphos. "This time we have five days of preparation available, good weather, and good facilities. We want to make the best use of these conditions," announced Rangnick.
Despite the great importance of the upcoming training camp, they will "not do anything completely different," emphasized Rangnick. "What is crucial is that the focus is fully there." The last-minute 0:1 in October in Romania is largely put behind. "Now it's important to look ahead." Rangnick's team will be cheered on by around 1,500 fans in Limassol, which is why the 67-year-old hopes for a kind of "home game atmosphere."
Austria defeated Cyprus in Linz
The Cypriots no longer have a chance at the World Cup, but they managed to secure a 2:2 draw at home against Romania and Bosnia, and also caused the ÖFB team significant problems in September with a 1:0 in Linz. "This will not be a game that we can decide in our favor with an average performance," speculated Rangnick. One must prepare for "high-intensity games" against Cyprus and Bosnia, the German predicted.
Rangnick had already set participation in the World Cup as a major goal when he took office in the summer of 2022. "For at least a handful of players, it is the last chance, for me, it is probably also the first and last chance to accompany a team as head coach to a World Cup. The players know what is at stake, and I am convinced that the guys will invest everything, that we will appear determined and united," said Rangnick.
(APA/Red)
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