ÖFB Team Aims to Take First Step Towards Nations League Promotion Against Serbia in Vienna

In the playoff first leg against Serbia, the ÖFB team wants to achieve an optimal starting position for the second leg on Sunday in Belgrade - it should also provide a boost for the qualification for the 2026 Football World Cup starting in June for Austria. The ÖFB team is unbeaten in five home games, and the match at the Ernst Happel Stadium is sold out with 46,400 spectators.

ÖFB Team and Serbia with Important Absences

The last home defeat for the Austrians was in October 2023 against Belgium (2:3). After that, there were four home victories. With a 1:1 draw at the end of the Nations League group stage in November in Vienna against Slovenia, the Austrians missed out on direct promotion. "We want to make up for that, that's what these games are about," emphasized team coach Ralf Rangnick. It is important, after a four-month international break, "to get back into our rhythm with our style of play. At the same time, it's about gaining additional confidence for the World Cup qualification."

The Serbs are missing, among others, the regular defense players Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, and Salzburg's Aleksa Terzic due to suspension. This should be taken advantage of. "I can imagine that they will try to achieve a good result for them with a defensive approach," said Rangnick. "Our goal is to secure a really good starting position for Sunday with a good game and a good result." The German did not want to offset the absences on both sides. Rangnick is missing four potential regular players due to injuries: Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, Marcel Sabitzer, and Alexander Prass, and key player Konrad Laimer is serving a yellow card suspension. "That's why we have to think a bit 'out of the box' in one or two positions."

Open Position in ÖFB Team Midfield

Rangnick could adjust his game system and field Nicolas Seiwald as the only primarily defensive midfielder. This would create space in the offense for an additional creative player like Kevin Stöger or the more dynamic Marco Grüll. The much more conservative option would be Florian Grillitsch as a second "number six" alongside Seiwald. In the center of the attack, Marko Arnautovic seems set. However, Rangnick did not rule out starting the record national player together with Michael Gregoritsch in the attack for the first time in a year and a half. The back four is likely to be formed by Stefan Lainer, Philipp Lienhart, the captain David Alaba, who returned to the team after 16 months, and Phillipp Mwene. The situation in goal is less clear. "There is no clear number one," said Rangnick. Patrick Pentz and Alexander Schlager are "very close to each other." The goalkeeper who plays the first leg does not necessarily have to play the second leg. A good performance could strengthen trust.

Alaba Expects Physical Game Against Serbia

In a European Championship test in June of the previous year, the Austrians prevailed 2:1 in Vienna against Serbia after early goals from Christoph Baumgartner and Patrick Wimmer. "We know it will be physical," assured Alaba. "You have to be prepared to counter that, but we can do it." There is great respect for Serbia's star striker Dusan Vlahovic - even though he hasn't scored for the team in two years. Alaba: "I know him very well. He is two-footed, has good speed for his size. We know in defense that it won't be easy."

Rangnick wanted to say few words about his disagreements with Vienna's sports councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) regarding the general renovation of the Ernst Happel Stadium he demanded. "Even if there should ever be a new stadium, I will certainly no longer be the one sitting on the bench here," emphasized the 66-year-old. "For me, the principle always applies, if possible: Plant trees under whose shade you will not sit yourself." Internally, they are not talking about a national stadium, but a multifunctional, state-of-the-art "event arena," as every city in Germany - not just every million-city - has, and as "in London now exists in fourfold form."

(APA/Red)

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