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Austrian national football team developments

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2026-09-27 09:49 UTC → 2026-09-27 11:38 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Austrian national football team is navigating a period of significant transition and performance scrutiny under coach Ralf Rangnick. Following a 0-3 loss to Spain in the World Cup Round of 16, Rangnick criticized the team’s physical condition. He noted a decline in key metrics—including sprinting, ball recovery in the final third, and counter-attacking—where Austria ranked between 25th and 35th out of 48 teams, a sharp drop from their top-three ranking during Euro 2024. Rangnick attributed this to fitness issues, stating eight players, such as Xaver Schlager, were not at full match fitness. Despite tactical debates, he reaffirmed his commitment to a pressing-based style. As the team prepares for the Nations League, the squad faces its first major personnel shift since 2010. The absence of veterans like Marko Arnautovic, David Alaba, and Marcel Sabitzer, alongside injuries to Christoph Baumgartner, has created what midfielder Romano Schmid described as a “noticeable difference” in team dynamics. This turnover is expected to reshape the team’s hierarchy and leadership. In Nations League play, Austria is currently positioned to seek promotion to Liga A. After securing a 3-1 victory over Israel, the team is ~~scheduled~~ set to host Kosovo at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna. This matchup features a notable coaching encounter, as Rangnick faces his predecessor, Franco Foda, who now leads the Kosovo squad. Kosovo enters the fixture with momentum following a 1-0 win against Ireland, which moved them to 77th in the FIFA rankings. However, Kosovo will be without captain Amir Rrahmani due to availability issues. Rangnick has indicated potential lineup changes for the fixture, specifically noting that a young goalkeeper is expected to make their debut.

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