Football World Cup Qualifiers: David Alaba Not in Austria Squad

The captain of the Austrian national football team, David Alaba, is still dealing with the effects of a meniscus tear. As a result, team coach Ralf Rangnick called up the recently injured Xaver Schlager and six potential debutants to the ÖFB squad for the World Cup qualifiers on Monday.

World Cup Qualifiers: Xaver Schlager in ÖFB Squad - Alexander Schlager Not

Xaver Schlager played his only competitive match this year on March 20 in the home 1-1 Nations League play-off against Serbia, after which he was sidelined due to a muscle injury. The professionals without international match appearances are goalkeepers Tobias Lawal (LASK), Nikolas Polster (WAC), and Nicolas Schmid (Portsmouth), as well as Nikolas Veratschnig (Mainz), Thierno Ballo (WAC), and Mathias Honsak (Heidenheim). Gernot Trauner (Feyenoord) is in the squad but is suspended for the Romania match. Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen) returns to the selection. Only on the standby list are, among others, Niklas Hedl (Rapid), Alexander Prass (Hoffenheim), Kevin Stöger, Stefan Lainer (both Gladbach), and Muhammed Cham (Trabzonspor). Compared to the squad originally nominated for the Serbia matches, six players are missing, including Salzburg goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, who has suffered a wrist injury.

Duration of Alexander Schlager's Absence Still Unclear

According to Rangnick, the goalkeeper was already troubled by this issue in the last two Bundesliga season matches. It has now been revealed that it is a more serious injury, with an expected absence of four to six weeks. Salzburg informed the APA that there is no final diagnosis yet and therefore no exact duration of absence. Without Schlager and the recently regularly nominated Hedl, the cards in the race for the number one jersey could be reshuffled. "We have nominated four goalkeepers because we want to be more flexible in training and to take a closer look at one or two who have not been involved so far," said Rangnick. The German nominated 27 players - also because there is still a question mark over the fitness of some players. Maximilian Wöber, Stefan Posch, and Raul Florucz have only recently returned from injuries, and caution will be exercised with them, according to Rangnick.

Xaver Schlager Fully Back in Training

Xaver Schlager has only played a quarter of an hour this calendar year, and that was over two months ago. Currently, the midfielder is on a Brazil tour with his club Leipzig. "He told me that he is feeling really good, he is participating in all the sessions. But despite the importance of the Romania game, it's about having him in the medium and long term as well, so we won't rush anything," promised Rangnick. The team manager has not been in intensive contact with Alaba for "two or three weeks" and therefore did not venture a prediction on whether the Real Madrid player will be available for the Club World Cup. "But I can't really imagine it. With such an injury history, I would personally make sure that he is fully available again in preparation."

Even without Alaba, they are set on winning against the Romanians, who started the qualifiers with a home defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina and an away win against San Marino, emphasized Rangnick. "We will certainly not test or try anything against them, but will field the best possible starting lineup," said Rangnick. "We have studied them intensively, know what kind of football they want to play and what to expect. We will try to draw the right conclusions from that. We must and want to start well, ideally winning the first game with a convincing performance. In San Marino, we then have to win."

Rangnick warns: Romanians "with many technically good players"

According to Rangnick, the Romanians "have many technically good players and try to find playful solutions." Since Mircea Lucescu took office in August of the previous year, "a little something has changed in the game idea," Rangnick said. The 66-year-old and his players will meet on Friday evening in Seefeld, where a public session will take place on Saturday morning. They will practice in the Tyrolean winter sports resort until June 5, before moving to Vienna. Rangnick is pleased to have his team available for a complete training week for the first time in a long time. Those players who are currently on vacation received a training program from the ÖFB coach. The squad should be complete by Monday at the latest, including Marko Arnautovic, who will play the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain with Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday. New to the coaching staff is German Daniel Ackermann as a video analyst, as Stefan Oesen has been promoted to assistant coach, and Thomas Vollnhofer as the second goalkeeping coach.

Honsak as a Striker Hope

Among others, Honsak will be working with them, who was once nominated for the team but had to cancel due to an injury. "He has recently shown improving form, is left-footed, exceptionally fast, has good heading ability, and is capable of scoring goals," said Rangnick about the Heidenheim striker. Another potential ÖFB striker is apparently on the horizon - the 19-year-old Slovenian-born Erik Kojzek has been with WAC for about twelve years. "He presents an exciting player profile in terms of size and speed, and he knows where the goal is," said Rangnick about the forward, with whom he has already conducted Zoom calls - once also together with ÖFB youth team leader Sebastian Prödl. "He has decided to play for Austria. Now discussions are underway to get him a passport and FIFA's playing permission relatively quickly. I hope it works out by the next training camp in September," explained Rangnick. However, there is still no decision regarding Paul Wanner. The 19-year-old is expected to participate in the U21 European Championship with Germany but could still switch to the ÖFB afterward due to his age.

(APA/Red)

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