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Austria coach Ralf Rangnick slams pitch conditions in Pristina
Austria's national football team is preparing to face Kosovo in a UEFA Nations League match at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina. Ahead of the fixture, Austrian head coach Ralf Rangnick has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the condition of the pitch, describing it as being in a “catastrophic state” and comparing it to a “meadow” or “field” rather than a professional football pitch. Rangnick noted that in his 41-year coaching career, he has rarely seen such poorly maintained conditions, suggesting that the surface will force a change in Austria's tactical approach.
Kosovo coach Franco Foda acknowledged the issues, explaining that the turf has suffered significant strain due to local clubs playing European matches there over the summer. Despite the pitch concerns, Austria enters the match as the group leader with seven points, while Kosovo follows with four. The Austrian squad is largely available, though Carney Chukwuemeka remains a doubt. For Kosovo, the return of captain Vedat Muriqi and goalkeeper Aro Muric provides a boost to the squad as they seek to capitalize on home advantage.
Entities
ASC 09 · Austria national football team · Austrian Football Association · Borussia Dortmund · Borussia Dortmund U23 · Düsseldorfer EG · Eulen Ludwigshafen · Fadil Vokrri Stadium · Franco Foda · Germany · HSG Krefeld Niederrhein · HSG Wetzlar
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