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The place where the “child” comes from is the Horn of Lower Austria. And it is precisely the roots of Waldviertel that keep the current shooting star in the ground. “I always heard from my parents that I was staying grounded and normal, and that won’t change, no matter where I go. It’s going well at the moment, but I know there will be games again that don’t go so well, ”said the 21-year-old.
A few months ago things were not going well at Baumgartner. At Hoffenheim he was fighting for a place in the starting lineup, so it was not a problem for team boss Franco Foda. But now, Lower Austria is not only trusted by its German employer and is a major service provider. Baumgartner was also one of the standout players in his previous three international matches in Norway, against Romania and now against Greece, underscored by two goals in three games. The sovereign blow to the Greeks also completed the Austrians’ 2-1 comeback to victory.
Therefore, Baumgartner does not consider himself a regular player. “The boss of the team decides that, currently there are many players who do not participate. I’ve been working a bit lately and I just make sure to do my best in every game, ”said the 21-year-old. But a certain pride was also mixed with modesty. “Goals are always something special, and in an international match that’s another Alzerl,” Baumgartner said.
Together with role model Alaba
For the first time, the Hoffenheim legionnaire will play his next international match on Sunday as part of the Nations League in Belfast against Northern Ireland (8:45 pm CET, live on ORF1) alongside David Alaba. “He was always a little role model for me because he celebrated his first successes when I was in the academy. He is a role model for all Austrian youth players, where you can see what is possible, even as an Austrian, ”said Baumgartner.
Lower Austria have already played against Alaba, and at times quite successfully. In Hoffenheim’s 2-1 away win against Bayern a year ago, the Lower Austrian was still on the bench, but in the last 4-1 win over the record champion two weeks ago, he was in action until minute 59. Success against Bayern, who had not been defeated by then in 2020, again boosted his self-confidence significantly. “Of course it was great to win after Bayern won what seemed like 1,000 matches in a row,” said the young ÖFB star.
The respect between the two legionaries of Germany is not one-sided. Alaba, who was still a spectator against the Greeks but will celebrate his comeback in Belfast, praised his colleague. “He has a lot of potential and plays cheeky in a good way. We will have a lot of fun with him, ”he said. But if Alaba will still have a lot of fun when it comes to a spot in the starting lineup, it can already be shown against Northern Ireland. Because Baumgartner recently convinced on the left wing, where Alaba was still in his last appearance in November 2019 against North Macedonia.
