Austria women’s national team midfielder Sarah Zadrazil has returned to official team training 378 days after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament, expressing readiness to contribute in the upcoming European World Cup play-offs against Kosovo as reported by Ligaportal.
Zadrazil Returns to Training After Year-Long Recovery
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder completed her first official training session with the ÖFB squad at the ÖFB Campus, following previous appearances as a training guest in April and June. Zadrazil tore her ACL during club action in late September 2025, having last played for Austria on June 3, 2025. She returned to action for her German club early last month, making appearances in six matches with a longest outing of 45 minutes. I am really glad that I can be properly active again,
Zadrazil said. Ligaportal noted that teammate Virginia Kirchberger-Prohaska welcomed the return, emphasizing both Zadrazil’s quality and her importance as a personality and leader within the dressing room.
Söndergaard Takes Charge as Austria Targets World Cup
The upcoming fixtures mark Zadrazil’s first international gathering under new head coach Lars Söndergaard. The Danish manager has introduced tactical shifts emphasizing central control and possession compared to the more direct style of Alex Schriebl. Now we have more control, try to play a lot through the center, and I’m used to having a lot of ball actions,
Zadrazil said. Söndergaard also integrated 17-year-old Valentina Pötzl into the senior squad for the first time following her standout performances in the UEFA Women’s Champions League for Austria Wien. Pötzl noted that returning long-term absentees like Zadrazil and Marie Höbinger serve as vital role models for younger squad members.
Austria Faces Kosovo Amid Concerns over Pitch Conditions
Austria travels to face Kosovo on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 18:00 at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Prishtina, before hosting the return leg on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 18:00 at the Wiener Sport-Club-Platz. The venue in Prishtina drew criticism the previous week regarding its playing surface during the ÖFB men’s fixtures. Zadrazil acknowledged the substandard conditions, noting that women’s football frequently encounters such challenges. While treating Kosovo as underdogs from League C, Zadrazil highlighted individual threats from Modesta Uka and Ereleta Memeti, warning that the opposition will likely rely on counter-attacking tactics.
Play-off Path to Brazil 2027
Victory over two legs against Kosovo will advance Austria to the second round of the European play-offs scheduled for late November and early December, where they will likely face Switzerland. Securing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil requires winning both play-off matches. Even if Austria wins the second round, the squad currently sits eighth in the projected rankings, meaning the team might face an additional single-leg international play-off in February, as only the seven best-placed second-round play-off winners secure direct qualification tickets.
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