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“The first half was not a special match for us. We knew that Luxembourg is very compact. We wanted to play more for the wings and with changing passes. However, we didn’t have the right pace and we changed the game too slowly. As a result, no corridors have been opened, ”Foda complained in the ORF interview. A correction followed after a “slightly more intense” pause speech supported by video footage, which had an effect on half of two.
However, according to Foda, the numerous failures weren’t a reason for the long, playful period of boring performance. “There are no excuses. That had nothing to do with the preparation or the lack of so many players, otherwise we would not have been able to improve in the second half, ”the German emphasized. “We just played too slow.” However, for Foda it was positive that “the team, even when things don’t go well, always wants and believes in victory. That was the case. “
Team ÖFB wins in Luxembourg
The Austrian national team played a friendly against Luxembourg on Wednesday. Thanks to an increase after the break, an indisputable 3-0 was achieved.
“We just look forward”
In the UEFA Nations League, Foda can once again rely on a series of regular players who were saved in the test, who are supposed to raise the bar for the team. The team manager is now ready to improvise. “I said a few weeks ago that this is going to haunt us, that it will probably get worse. That is exactly what happened, ”Foda said. “We just look forward. It was important that we win this game. We wanted to start in a positive way. We now have until Sunday to prepare well. We will do that. “
The Austrians are leaders in the decision of the Nations League. Four points from the two games would be enough to win the group, which would not only mean promotion to the A-League, but also an additional play-off opportunity for the 2022 World Cup. Even if they lost in Vienna against Northern Ireland, the ÖFB would have -Team with first place with a win on Wednesday against Norway still in hand. Foda spoke of a “final” against the Norwegians. “We will be ready and we will do everything we can to defend the first place we have now.”
Arnautovic as part of the reinforcements
David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, Xaver Schlager and Stefan Lainer, who had planned not to participate in the trip to the Grand Duchy, as well as Cican Stankovic and Andreas Ulmer from Salzburg, will be reinforced. According to the ÖFB, they all tested negative for CoV on Wednesday. Marko Arnautovic was also nominated by Foda. The Chinese legionnaire is expected to be in Vienna on Saturday and will complete a coronavirus test on the same day.
In theory, he would be ready to play Northern Ireland on Sunday. The 31-year-old should be there for the final for first place in the group on Wednesday against Norway. “These players are an important part of our team. They lift the team, we don’t have to discuss that for long, ”Foda said. A team would be made up of 20 to 25 players. “I have absolute confidence in everyone.”
Difficult situation on the wing
Valentino Lazaro (Mönchengladbach) and Philipp Lienhart (Freiburg) traveled back to their clubs after the match as agreed. Furthermore, the use of Christoph Baumgartner against Northern Ireland and Norway remains questionable. According to Foda, the Hoffenheim legionnaire has tested negative, but by order of the authorities, his entire team is in quarantine after several cases of coronavirus. “We have to wait a day or two to see how the situation develops there.”
A failure of the 21-year-old would hurt the ÖFB team. “He has enlivened our game with the way he plays football, with his dynamism, with his depth,” Foda said. “Of course we would miss him.” At the piano, the situation would be particularly difficult without Lázaro and Baumgartner. The team leader remained confident: “That’s why we have nominated a bigger team. We have enough players to survive against Northern Ireland and Norway. “
