At the start of the year, the ÖFB selection will complete a five-day training camp in Marbella in two weeks. According to sports director Peter Schöttel, they also want to discuss the European Championship bonuses with the players. This will be followed by test matches against Slovakia (March 23rd in Bratislava, 6:00 p.m., live on ORF1) and Turkey (March 26th in Vienna, 8:45 p.m., live on ORF1). The next meeting will not take place until the end of May in Windischgarsten, before the last home game against Serbia (June 4th in Vienna, 8:45 p.m., live on ORF1) and then the European Championship dress rehearsal in St. Gallen against Switzerland (June 8th, 6:00 p.m ) wait.
The Austrians will move into their EM quarters in the sophisticated Schlosshotel Berlin on June 12th. In between, the players now have three days off in which they can “take a breather and recharge their batteries” with their families, as Schöttel put it. The journey to Berlin is individual. “The meeting point for everyone is on June 12th in Berlin.” As requested by the organizer, five days before the first tournament game against France in Düsseldorf.
APA/AFP/Fabrice Rambert Germany played at the Schlosshotel Berlin at the 2006 World Cup, and Austria will play here at the 2024 European Championships
According to Schöttel, the ÖFB entourage will almost certainly travel to Düsseldorf by plane due to the distance of more than four hours by train. The Rangnick team will play the second group game and the group final against the Netherlands in Berlin – just a 15-minute bus ride from their accommodation in the posh Grunewald district. Training takes place on the Hertha BSC grounds in the immediate vicinity of the Olympic Stadium.
Basis in Berlin
The Hertha second team usually plays its home games in the stadium on the pitch. In addition, additional training places are available if required. In mid-February, a delegation of around 20 people including the team boss, sports director and representatives of all ÖFB departments operational at the European Championships were on an inspection trip to the German capital. “We looked at everything there and put our wishes down,” explained Schöttel. “That will be great.”
IMAGO/Matthias Koch/Sebastian Räppold The Hertha BSC second team is usually in action on the pitch in the stadium
Rangnick must name his 23-man squad for the tournament to UEFA on June 7th. “I do believe that we will wait until the last moment because something can still happen until the last day,” said Schöttel. For Alaba, it will be a race against time after he tore his cruciate ligament in December. It will be seen shortly after the Pentecost weekend on May 21st whether the Real Madrid star will appear in the main squad for the European Championship preparations. Hope is alive: “My information is that the rehabilitation is going very well.”
Fears about central defenders
Freiburg’s next man Lienhart has been missing for months due to a groin operation, Salzburg’s Samson Baidoo has to miss the game due to a torn syndesmosis in his ankle. Gernot Trauner also sat out at Feyenoord Rotterdam due to thigh problems. “Especially with the central defenders, we currently have an issue where not so long ago we believed that we were overmanned,” said Schöttel. But he assumes that Lienhart should be fit for the European Championships. Otherwise, only Lens’ Kevin Danso seems set for the time being.
Graphics: APA/ORF; Quelle: WHAT
The Austrians won’t find out their opponent in their second European Championship game until March 26th. On paper, the decision is likely to be between Wales and Poland, who are clearly favorites in the play-off semi-finals against Finland and Estonia respectively. All three games will be observed by ÖFB scouts. Schöttel does not see a big problem in the short analysis time until the tournament: “The teams have to play with the best possible players. Then we’ll see what awaits us.” Rangnick’s co-coaches are also involved in observing the European Championship opponents. “We leave nothing to chance.”
Rangnick future as an accompanying topic
A topic that is already casting its shadow is Rangnick’s future with the ÖFB team. Especially since the successful work arouses the interest of other clubs and associations. There was recently a media issue with FC Barcelona looking for a coach; the 65-year-old German’s contract runs at least until the end of qualification for the World Cup, including 2025.
“I do think that it is one of Ralf’s goals to be part of the national team at the finals. Despite his success in club football, he hasn’t had that yet. It is also his first European Championship. I already know that he is very focused so that he can achieve his goals. And he definitely wants to go to a World Cup,” said Schöttel, who is in good spirits in this regard.
Timetable for the 2024 European Championship
March 11: Squad announcement for the first course in 2024March 18th to 22nd: Training camp in MarbellaMarch 23rd: Test match in Bratislava against Slovakia (6 p.m., live on ORF1)March 24th and 25th: Training days in Vienna26th of March: Test match in Vienna against Turkey (8.45 p.m., live on ORF1)26th of March: The last open European Championship group opponents have been determined (Wales, Poland, Finland or Estonia)21 May: Announcement of the main squad for the European Championship preparationsMay 29th to June 3rd: Training camp in Windischgarsten4. June: Test match in Vienna against Serbia (8.45 p.m., live on ORF1)June 5th to 7th: Training days in ViennaJune 7: Announcement of the final 23-man squad for the Euro 2024 (UEFA deadline)8. June: Test match in St. Gallen against Switzerland (6 p.m.)June 9th to 11th: days off for all team players12 June: Meeting point in the EM quarter in BerlinJune 17: European Championship group game in Düsseldorf against France (9 p.m.)21st of June: European Championship group game in Berlin against Wales, Poland, Finland or Estonia (6 p.m.)25 June: European Championship group game in Berlin against the Netherlands (6 p.m.)
