Soccer: the Luxembourg test for Foda is not “useless”

“There are no mindless games. It’s a friendly match, so you can still try something, ”emphasized the national coach before the match at Stade Josy Barthel. “It’s an important game in terms of the Nations League, we want to present ourselves well.” The duel with number 95 in the FIFA world rankings – Austria ranked 25 – offers many in the second row a chance to compete for the World Cup – Qualification and EM next year will be recommended “One or the other can prove themselves now,” Foda said.

Martin Hinteregger sees it in a similar light, who will be one of the few regular players against Luxembourg in the starting XI. “There will be a lot of new players. Our goal can only be victory. We want to win again and start the course with a victory, ”said the central defender, noting that the team had already faced numerous failures in their three October victories.

The squad situation kept Foda busy

In the days leading up to the game, however, Foda kept busy. The German was faced with numerous new developments in the team situation, it was only in the course of Tuesday that it seemed to be half clear. Andreas Ulmer and Cican Stankovic of Salzburg are only available for the Nations League matches at Happel Stadium on Sunday against Northern Ireland and the following Wednesday against Norway.

The two are not a problem for Luxembourg because they missed the mandatory UEFA tests, which were held on Tuesday. His club colleague Albert Vallci, who was also originally nominated, was included on the list. The defender was only destined for the duel with the Grand Duchy team.

It is also fixed that Alessandro Schöpf is out with a calf injury. Furthermore, Maximilian Ullmann does not travel to Luxembourg. As a precaution, Rapid’s left-back remains in Vienna after Rapid had a positive group test, but could still join the ÖFB selection for Nations League games. Later nominees Philipp Wiesinger and Jörg Siebenhandl took their places on the plane to Luxembourg.

“Improvise and be flexible”

David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, Xaver Schlager, Christoph Baumgartner and Stefan Lainer are safe and, like Ulmer and Stankovic, ready for action in the Nations League. Due to the absence of Alaba, Ulmer, Ullmann and Marco Friedl (the Bremen legionnaire is not there due to travel restrictions), Foda does not have a left defender against Luxembourg.

Foda did not want to reveal how this problem will be solved and what the initial formation of the ÖFB in Luxembourg will look like. “You just have to improvise a lot and be flexible. When setting up, you have to wait to see what unfolds throughout the day. We are in times when something can change every hour, ”said the former Sturm Graz manager.

Little time for tactical questions

In any case, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Foda had to deal more with personnel issues than tactics in preparation. “The last two days have been very turbulent. On Sunday I traveled to Vienna relaxed, everything was fine. But then the situation developed in a different direction, ”said the 54-year-old.

Meanwhile, the situation has calmed down a bit, Foda said. “Now we can go back to concentrating on the sport.” The team boss informed his players on Tuesday morning through a video study about the opponent, that, like the ÖFB team, he will not compete with the best cast; in Luxembourg, the next National League matches are also the focus. in which the state team with a population of 610,000 is about to win the group.

Flawless record against Luxembourg

If Hinteregger has his way, the duel with Luxembourg is “a good test for us, even if the opponent’s name is not too big.” The number 95 in the FIFA world rankings is, according to the defender, “stronger than two years ago.” Back then, on March 27, 2018, Austria won 4-0 in a friendly match in Luxembourg. In the previous six matches, Austria have always come off the field as the winner, the goal difference is 26: 4.