“Collective failure”: Fan spot and media scolding after Austria gossip against Israel
Franco Foda already suspected that the day after the bankruptcy would not be pleasant. “If you get five goals, you haven’t done something right“, said the German coach of the Austrian national team after the 2: 5-low blow in Israel. The Austria-Medien was not merciful that the selection of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) despite the qualification embarrassment against the ex- ÖFB sports director Willi Ruttensteiner supervised hosts still has the chance of the World Cup in Qatar.
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The experience on Saturday evening was nothing new for Foda and his players. In March 2019 there was a similar applause with 2: 4 in the European Championship qualification: also in Haifa, also against Israel, in Andreas Herzog also a compatriot in the opposing coaching bench – and the performance was also underground.
On Sunday the comments were similar to those two and a half years ago: “Was for a smack! Austria’s national team lost 2: 5 in the World Cup qualifiers in Israel on Saturday“Wrote die Kronen newspaper. The press new “Austria’s agonizing inefficiency”. The courier stated “a collective failure that also includes the team boss“. The undisputed war of the ex-Bundesliga professional Foda seldom in the past four years.
Social media spot for Austria players
On social media, some irony twitterers suspected a higher political sense behind the presentation of the team around captain David Alaba. “In terms of human rights, it is very commendable that Austria’s team is boycotting the World Cup in Qatar,” wrote one. Another said: “Others are talking about boycotting # Qatar2022. Austria just does it unannounced.”
But it’s not that far yet. Austria’s World Cup is still a bit off. As of now, the Austria kickers would be at the World Cup playoff in March 2022 – regardless of the course of the other group games. As group winners in the B-League of the Nations League last year, they should play the playoffs if four of the five teams from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Wales finish their qualifying groups as first or second in the table.
Direct World Cup ticket almost inaccessible for Austria
After five out of ten qualifying match days, the only thing that is clear so far is that first place in Group F is as good as unreachable for Austria. Denmark is eight points ahead of Austria in fourth place with 15 points. So it’s all about the fight for second place. And Israel with ten points and Scotland with eight have an advantage. In any case, a victory against the Scots in Vienna on Tuesday – despite the failures of Marcel Sabitzer, Stefan Lainer, Sasa Kalajdzic, Xaver Schlager and Julian Baumgartlinger.
With a performance like the one in Israel, that will be difficult anyway. After 33 minutes it is 0: 3. The connection gates by Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner (42nd) and ex-Bremen’s Marko Arnautovic (55th) were also useless. Shon Weissman (58th) and Eran Zahavi (90th) with his second goal made Austria’s bankruptcy perfect.
“We can’t get five goals against Israel. There was a lot missing,” said goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann in frustration. Like his trainer, he sensed the media thunderstorm. “If there is something good to write, it comes very, very briefly and small. And if it does not work, then it is capitalized and screamed again.” However, he admitted: “We deserved it today after our performance.”