Alex Schlager will start in goal for Austria against Ireland in Linz on Saturday after team boss Ralf Rangnick opted for experience over uncapped depth, sport.ORF.at reported.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper currently serves as a reserve at Werder Bremen following his transfer from Salzburg, making only one DFB-Pokal appearance this season. Rangnick considered handing LASK goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth his debut in October, but recent defensive lapses from the youngster swayed the coaching staff toward their veteran World Cup keeper, sport.ORF.at reported.
Austria enters the fifth matchday of UEFA Nations League Group B3 sitting on a 16-game unbeaten home run, aiming to secure promotion back to League A inside a sellout Raiffeisen Arena, Ligaportal reported. Kickoff is set for 20:45 local time (19:30 UTC) with referee Rade Peljto of Bosnia-Herzegovina officiating.
“Wir müssen als Mannschaft eine starke Leistung zeigen,” said Ralf Rangnick, Austria team boss, in an interview with sport.ORF.at.
Austria will play the match without key midfielders Xaver Schlager and Alexander Prass, who suffered sudden muscle injuries in training. Rangnick described the setbacks as annoying and unexpected given both players’ strong recent form, sport.ORF.at reported.
Alongside Jungwirth, the Austrian goalkeeping department includes Florian Wiegele of Viktoria Pilsen and Salzburg’s Christian Zawieschitzky. None of the three reserve options have accumulated more than two international caps, according to sport.ORF.at records.
“Das kam schon überraschend, es gab im Training keinen Vorfall,” said Ralf Rangnick, Austria team boss, to sport.ORF.at.
The German coach said that Ireland possesses dangerous individual talent and executed a strong tactical game plan during the previous encounter, according to International | ligaportal.at.
“Wir wollen natürlich versuchen, jetzt auch wieder zu null zu spielen, möglichst wenig Torchancen für den Gegner zuzulassen,” said Ralf Rangnick, Austria team boss, via International | ligaportal.at.
Midfielder Konrad Laimer highlighted the atmospheric boost provided by the local supporters in Linz.
Christoph Baumgartner is slated to make his comeback after recovering from an injury. Rangnick confirmed the playmaker will feature for no more than 60 to 65 minutes, describing the return as a positive surprise in sport.ORF.at reporting.
The coaching staff faces a decision in the central attacking role between LASK striker Sasa Kalajdzic and Michael Gregoritsch. Austria boasts an imposing record at the Raiffeisen Arena on the Froschberg, winning six and drawing one of seven matches played since the stadium opened three and a half years ago, sport.ORF.at reported.
The sole non-victory at the venue was a 1:1 draw in a friendly against the Republic of Moldova, according to match archives.
The Group B3 fixture begins at 20:45 CET on Saturday at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, with live television coverage provided by ORF1 starting at 19:30 CET, sport.ORF.at outlined.
Austria: A. Schlager – Posch, Lienhart, Danso, Mwene – Seiwald, Laimer – Schmid, Baumgartner, Lang – Kalajdzic
Ireland: Kelleher – O’Shea, Egan, Scales – Abankwah, Azaz, Coventry, Manning – Moylan, Idah – Parrott
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