“We just look forward”

It was not a brilliant playful achievement. With their fourth win in a row, a 3-0 (0-0) win on Wednesday night in Luxembourg, the Austrian soccer team has gained confidence for Sunday’s decisive Nations League home games against Northern Ireland. and three days later against Norway. The team boss, Franco Foda, can call on several regular players who were saved in the test, who are supposed to raise the level of the team.

According to Foda, the numerous failures were not a reason for the playful and boring performance for a long time. “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.”

The team leader is now prepared to improvise as a result of Corona regulations. “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 go to the Nations League decision as leaders of their Group 1 League B. Four points from the two matches would be enough to win the group, which would not only mean promotion to League A of the main nations, but also an additional play-off opportunity for the 2022 World Cup. Even if they were defeated in Vienna against Northern Ireland the ÖFB team was still in first place with a win on Wednesday against Norway. 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.”

However, a fun raise will be necessary. Among other things, the team boss did not like the quality of the pass in Luxembourg. “The first half was not a special match for us. We didn’t have the right pace and we changed the game too slowly. As a result, no corridors have been opened ”. A correction followed after a “somewhat more intense” pause speech supported by video footage. Foda: “For me, the most important thing was that the team, even if things don’t go well, always want and believe in victory. That was the case. “

David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, Xaver Schlager and Stefan Lainer, who had planned not to participate in the 24-hour trip to the Grand Duchy, as well as Salzburg actors Cican Stankovic and Andreas Ulmer, will be reinforced. According to the ÖFB, they all gave negative crown tests on Wednesday and should start training on Thursday. “These players are an important part of our national 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.”

LASK actors Gernot Trauner and Philipp Wiesinger appeared in Luxembourg. “Gernot had good anticipation in the last three and captured good balls. He played a good game, regardless of the goal he scored, ”said Foda. Wiesinger also “did well” in his first international match on the unknown left wing. With Reinhold Ranftl and second rookie Hussein Balic, two more LASK kickers were substituted. Foda: “You have fitted in well. In this sense, the friendly served its purpose. It was important for them to show up here in our group. “

Valentino Lazaro (Mönchengladbach) and Philipp Lienhart (Freiburg) traveled back to their clubs after the match as agreed. Furthermore, the use of young star 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 corona. “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. ” With a fifth consecutive victory for the ÖFB against the Northern Irish, Foda would match his record since taking office in 2017/18.