ÖFB Head Coach Rangnick: After Setback in Nations League, Only World Cup Qualification Matters

The 0:2 defeat in the second leg of the Nations League playoffs against Serbia is meant to serve as a warning for the ÖFB team. Despite the setbacks, ÖFB team coach Rangnick remains optimistic about participating in the Football World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

ÖFB Team Coach Rangnick on World Cup Qualification: "I am convinced that we will make it"

The next international match on June 7 in Vienna against Romania already counts. "It's about Austria qualifying for the World Cup again after 28 years," emphasized Rangnick. Many team players were not even born in 1998. "And for many in my team, it's basically the last chance to ever play in a World Cup. Probably for me too - the first and the last," said Rangnick. "Therefore, we will invest everything. I am also convinced that we will make it - if we are somewhat spared from this injury misery, yes plague."

Against the Serbs, including David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic, who were substituted later due to load management, nine "potential first-eleven players" were missing, calculated Rangnick. Additionally, Sasa Kalajdzic, Michael Svoboda, and Andreas Weimann are three other currently injured alternatives. "It's completely normal to notice that in one situation or another," said Rangnick. That also doesn't mean he wasn't satisfied with the players fielded in Belgrade.

A Lot of Ball Possession for ÖFB Team Likely Also in World Cup Qualification

Austria had significantly more possession, as already in the first leg in Vienna (1:1), but made too little of it. The Rangnick selection primarily creates danger through ball wins and transition situations. "The ball possession was clearly on their side. But sometimes it's also good to control a game from the defense," said Serbia's team coach Dragan Stojkovic meaningfully. Such adjusted opponents will now mostly blossom for the Austrians in the World Cup qualification as well.

Rangnick remained unimpressed: "I don't believe at all that they left the game to us. Just ask the Serbian players if it was the plan to just chase after for the first 55 minutes." Strahinja Pavlovic told him that Austria was clearly the better team twice and he had no idea how they could have won the game. "That had a lot to do with the way we played, how we dominated and controlled the game. But of course, in the end, you have to decide these games."

That was already not achieved at the end of the Nations League group stage against Slovenia (1:1), otherwise, the playoff games would have been spared. "Then we might be explaining a defeat in the World Cup qualification and we would have had to do without twelve players in the World Cup qualification," speculated Rangnick. "As shitty as the defeat feels, I prefer that we lost here than in a World Cup qualification game against Romania or Cyprus."

Last Nations League with ÖFB Head Coach Rangnick?

The promotion to the A-League of the Nations League was only achieved under Rangnick's predecessor Franco Foda in 2020. In the fall of 2026, the Austrians are once again second-class. To what extent he could imagine still being the head coach then, Rangnick left open. "No idea, I haven't thought about it," said the 66-year-old. "For me, only the qualification and then the World Cup count. What happens or doesn't happen after that is completely irrelevant to me."

He was pleased that no further player was injured during the training camp. Only Phillipp Mwene had to stay in the locker room at halftime in Belgrade. According to Rangnick, his participation was only possible with painkillers. "Most players return fitter and healthier than when they arrived," said the head coach. This also applies to Xaver Schlager and Alaba, who were previously injured for a long time. The latter only came on for the last quarter of an hour in the return match. "Above all, it was important that David remains fit and healthy," emphasized Rangnick. "I owe it to my captain that he can play at the highest level for many more years."

Their great importance for the ÖFB team was demonstrated by Konrad Laimer and Patrick Wimmer. Deputy captain Laimer dictated the first half as a ball hunter in a playmaker role. After the change of sides, the two formed an offensively oriented full-back duo for the first time in the national team.

ÖFB Head Coach Rangnick Sees No Goalkeeper Problem

The following slapstick own goal to make it 0:1 could have been avoided from the start, according to Rangnick. "I'm not so much annoyed that the ball jumped over Alex's foot," said the German. Instead of a pass to Nicolas Seiwald, goalkeeper Alexander Schlager should have played a long ball to Arnautovic or Michael Gregoritsch. "We had two strong headers on the field. Clearly, it makes sense to play the ball there."

Rangnick, who has declared the race between Schlager and Patrick Pentz to be close, does not see a goalkeeper problem. "On the contrary. If anything, the problem is: Who do we field?" His team has only kept a clean sheet twice in the last 15 matches - each time against Kazakhstan (4:0 and 2:0). This should change in the World Cup qualification. Rangnick's promise: "I am convinced that if by then almost everyone is back, we will qualify for the World Cup as group winners."

(APA/Red)

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