Austria’s national football team faces an unexpected personnel shortage ahead of its upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures after midfielder Paul Wanner and defender Nikolas Veratschnig sustained injuries during a 3–1 victory over Kosovo, the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) announced.
Injuries Confirmed Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical evaluations conducted via magnetic resonance imaging confirmed that Wanner, who plays his club football in midfield for PSV Eindhoven, suffered an injury to his left sole. Veratschnig, serving as captain for Red Bull Salzburg, sustained a separate injury to his right knee during the home fixture. Both players have officially departed the national team camp to complete their rehabilitation with their respective clubs.
While the ÖFB stated that the exact timeline for their recovery remains undetermined at this stage, Veratschnig’s club issued a public statement indicating that the defender faces an absence of several weeks.
Midfield Boost as Sascha Horvath Avoids Structural Damage
In contrast to the multi-week absences faced by Wanner and Veratschnig, the ÖFB delivered reassuring news regarding LASK playmaker Sascha Horvath. The midfielder had been forced to cut training short due to sudden muscular discomfort. However, subsequent examinations confirmed that Horvath avoided any structural damage, allowing him to remain active within the national team setup.
Due to Horvath’s clean bill of health and the stability of the remaining squad, head team manager Ralf Rangnick elected not to issue any late call-ups or player replacements.
Roster Adjustments Ahead of Away Fixtures
The latest squad alterations mark a significant reshaping of the group that secured 3–1 victories over both Israel and Kosovo earlier in the international window. Beyond the departures of Wanner and Veratschnig, Christian Zawieschitzky and Vasilije Markovic have both been reassigned to Austria’s under-21 selection.
Reinforcements have arrived in the form of Konrad Laimer, who joined the national team after recovering fully from a muscular fiber tear in his adductor region. Meanwhile, previously questionable attackers Michael Gregoritsch and Phillipp Mwene retain their positions within the active roster.
Upcoming Schedule and Travel Plans
The Austrian squad departs for Dublin with a traveling party of 24 players. The group includes central defender Kevin Danso, who remains suspended for the upcoming fixture against the Republic of Ireland. Following Thursday’s match in Dublin, the team will travel onward on Friday ahead of their return fixture against Kosovo.
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