Rangnick dissatisfied after Austria’s 1-1 draw against France
A win against the vice world champion, a draw against the world champion: Austria made an impression at the start under Ralf Rangnick. Does the “Golden Generation” still deliver?
The Ernst Happel Stadium, which is often so drafty, had boiled for 90 minutes. And when it was all over in Vienna, Ralf Rangnick was still bubbling up. Someone had just said that Austria had “at least” managed to draw against the world champions. “After all, why?!” snapped Rangnick: “We were 1-0 up!”
Austria took on France in the Nations League
Rot-Weiss-Rot will play different football under the new German team boss and develop different standards, as was shown in the 1-1 (1-0) win against France. And that was also reflected in the gleaning late on Friday evening. He was satisfied with his team’s game, said Rangnick, “but there is nothing to congratulate”.
David Alaba criticizes the national team’s style of play so far
In the end, David Alaba was also disappointed with this draw against Kylian Mbappé and Co. – and immediately classified his emotional state himself. “It just shows,” said the long-time Bayern star, “that maybe we’re fed up with playing a certain kind of football somewhere, like we’ve always had in previous years.”
Franco Foda did not bring success to Austria
Franco Foda, the previous team boss, also from Germany, should probably feel addressed. In any case, Alaba also conveys the spirit of optimism that is currently prevailing in Austria. On Rangnick’s debut, the team won 3-0 at runners-up Croatia, then lost unluckily to a strong Danish team (1-2), and now had the world champions on the brink of defeat. Only late did Mbappe (83rd) equalize the lead by Andreas Weimann (37th).
Alaba, Laimer, Schlager and Sabitzer form the backbone of the national team
“We’re in a process,” says Alaba, “we’re excited to continue this process.” Rangnick attacked early and played to win. That is likely to be possible with professionals like Alaba, who now plays for Real Madrid, with established Bundesliga players like Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig), Xaver Schlager (VfL Wolfsburg) and Marcel Sabitzer (Bayern Munich).
Austria was last at a World Cup in 1998
The former Bremen player Marko Arnautovic also belongs to this generation of highly talented people, who probably shimmers golden – and who should actually end a dry spell: Austria has not been at a World Cup since 1998. The fact that Foda missed the Winter World Cup in Qatar with this team finally sealed his end. Rangnick’s arrival was celebrated for the first time in Austria, but it also triggered skepticism: again not a local, again a German in the country’s most important coaching chair.
What happened in Volkspark this week? What about HSV ahead of the next matchday? Every Friday, the Rautenpost provides you with analyses, updates and transfer rumours. Just in time for the weekend, you will receive a brief summary of all the latest news of the week about HSV from us – directly by e-mail in your mailbox. Click here and subscribe for free.
So far, Rangnick has not offered the doubters a target, on the contrary. The Happel stadium hadn’t been sold out for four years, but it was now integrated against France: 44,800 spectators came, only a few seats remained empty, the newspaper “Österreich” wrote of a “cauldron”. “I think we woke people up with our game,” says Alaba.
You might also be interested in: Media: Kyereh is moving to this Bundesliga club
However, Rangnick has to wait and see. His contract is initially valid until the EM 2024 in Germany. If the qualification succeeds, it will continue until the 2026 World Cup in the USA. There is still a long way to go before we reach our big goal. (mp/sid)