The ÖFB selection needs a win in the Ernst Happel Stadium in the last group game against the current runner-up and in the parallel match in Copenhagen Denmark needs to win points against world champion France in order to remain in the highest league of the Nations League. The Croatians, current leaders in Group A1, would be first with a win and thus in the Final Four for the Nations League title.
If the Austrians manage to win and jump to third place, they would most likely be drawn from pot one in the European Championship qualifying draw on October 9th. In the event of relegation, the ÖFB team would definitely be in pot two. The pot division is based on the Nations League performance, the top ten of the four groups of four in the highest league excluding hosts Germany end up in the one pot.
ÖFB with confidence in the decision game
ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick can draw on the full before the last group game of the Nations League in Vienna against vice world champion Croatia. The ailing captain David Alaba is also eager to play.
More than 42,000 tickets had been sold for the game in the Prater by Saturday afternoon, and numerous fans of the Croatian team are also expected. The “real” Croatian home game and at the same time the first duel between the two teams in the group phase ended in June in Osijek on the debut of team boss Rangnick with a 3-0 win for Austria. Despite problems in the early stages, the victory was deserved, said the team boss. In Osijek, however, the Croatians were missing Tottenham star Ivan Perisic, captain Luka Modric was only substituted on at 0: 3 from a Croatian perspective.
Alaba questionable, Danso fix
This time, Real Madrid’s precious technician Modric is expected from the start. “He’s not only a regular player, but also a top performer for the Champions League winners. That says it all,” said Rangnick. Modric’s club colleague David Alaba had to be replaced after a 2-0 defeat in France, but he was able to take part in Saturday’s training session. According to Rangnick, the decision as to whether the Viennese will be there on Sunday will be made on the day of the game at the latest. “He feels good and really wants to play. But that only makes sense if he’s at 100 percent.”
It is already fixed that Kevin Danso, who is suspended against the French, will start. In addition, this time Heinz Lindner is in goal and not Patrick Pentz like in the Stade de France, Rangnick revealed without revealing any further details about the starting line-up. Konrad Laimer will not be there due to a syndesmosis ligament injury. “He’s currently one of the best, if not the best, switchover player in the world. I’d rather he’s missing now than in the European Championship qualifier in March,” said Rangnick.
EM qualification already in mind
Qualifying for the finals is very important to the 64-year-old. “If you look at the three competitions, the World Cup is the Champions League, the European Championship is the Europa League and the Nations League is the Conference League.” emphasized Rangnick. His team holds four points after five games in a group with the reigning world and vice world champions (France, Croatia) and the EM 2021 semi-finalists (Denmark). “If someone had said that before, we probably would have accepted it,” guessed Rangnick.
Nations League, Group A1
Sunday, 8.45 p.m. (live on ORF1 and in the live stream)
Austria – Croatia
Vienna, Ernst Happel Stadium, SR Dias (POR)
Possible lineups:
Austria: Lindner – Trimmel, Danso, Alaba, Wöber – D. Ljubicic, X. Schlager, Seiwald, Sabitzer – Gregoritsch, Arnautovic
Croatia: Livakovic – Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa – Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic – Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic
Rangnick reported that they would like to stay up in the league and be back with the big players in the next edition of the Nations League. “But with all due respect for the competition, the top priority is that we play the best possible qualification and then play a really good role in the European Championship,” said Rangnick. “We want to develop the team further and take the next steps so that we are as well prepared as possible for qualifying for the European Championship.”
There is certainly room for improvement, as the 2-0 defeat against France last Thursday proved. “We want to try to get more access to this game so that the interplay between what we show on the pitch and what comes from the audience works. Just like in the first two home games.” The 2-1 draw against Denmark and the 1-1 draw against France in June “could have been won, if not had to be,” said Rangnick. Now you have to play more courageously and compactly than against France, disrupt earlier and “not play like kittens”. “More like cheetahs or leopards,” said the 64-year-old.
Croatia with “huge respect”
In any case, Croatia’s team boss Zlatko Dalic warned of the qualities of the Austrian selection. “I have huge respect for them. They showed in Osijek that they can play well, so we have to be wide awake, perform well and give everything,” said the 55-year-old. It is important to draw the right lessons from the 0: 3 against the ÖFB team, demanded Dalic. “We want to make things right. In the first game we got goals from counterattacks and half counterattacks. Now we have to be more compact and aggressive and also play for possession.”
Losing to Austria in June, the Croatians followed that up with two wins against Denmark and a win and draw against France. Therefore, the vice world champion is in first place in the group before the last round and would be in the Final Four for the Nations League title with three points in the Prater. “This is a huge opportunity for us. It’s in our own hands and we don’t want to rely on France,” said Dalic, referring to the home game between the Danes and the French, who are one point behind.
According to the coach, he is pursuing several goals against the ÖFB team. “We want to achieve a good result, but also try out a few new players,” said Dalic. Before the World Cup in Qatar, his team only has one friendly against Saudi Arabia. Ahead of the finals, Croatian fans are optimistic about recent Nations League successes – not necessarily to Dalic’s delight. “We want to curb the euphoria and remain down-to-earth. Euphoria does us no good.”
Austria beckons world title
By the way, with a corresponding animal attitude, the Austrians could also secure the title of unofficial soccer world champion. According to the “Unofficial Football World Championships” (“UFWC”) set up by an English journalist in 2003, the official vice world champion Croatia is the reigning champion and would have to hand over the crown to the ÖFB team in the event of a defeat.
The “UFWC” is a fictitious competition, the title is passed on in direct duels – that is, the current champion retains his status in the event of a win or draw in an international match, in the event of a defeat the imaginary trophy goes to the successful challenger. Croatia clinched the title in June by beating Denmark 1-0 away and then successfully defended it in 1-0 wins in France and 2-1 wins against Denmark.
According to “UFWC” calculations, Austria has already won the title twice – after beating Scotland 5-1 in May 1937 and after beating the Soviet Union 1-0 in October 1967. England became the first world champion thanks to their first international win in history: that was the case in 1873 “Football’s motherland” clearly 4-2 through in the British duel with Scotland.
