[ad_1]
For the goals of the Austrian team against Northern Ireland on Sunday in Vienna two players who are not considered regular ÖFB classics. Substitutes Louis Schaub and Adrian Grbić proved their value for the ÖFB selection with their goals and thus endorsed the right to a place in the squad for Euro 2021.
>> Live ticker: Austria vs. Norway
His share of goals in the national team speaks for itself. Schaub has six goals in 17 appearances, five of them as “Joker”, Grbić scored three times in six games. However, the French legionnaire knows that there is still a long way to go before participating in the EURO. “We are well positioned in attack. That is why it is important to always be there, give your best in training and recommend yourself for other tasks,” said Grbić.
Grbić happy after a long trip in France
The exemplary assist for his goal came from Marko Arnautović. “He has an incredible presence and charisma. It is an honor to be on the pitch with him,” Grbić said. Arnautović had a “similar childhood when it comes to football,” said the Vienna native. “We play a lot in the park. You learn things there that you can’t learn in an academy.”
Grbić has Croatian roots, but switching to the Croatian federation was never an option. “I played for all the Austrian youth teams from the U-15s onwards, so it was clear that later I would also play for Austria’s A team,” said the 24-year-old.
Grbić moved from Rapid to Stuttgart as a teenager. After intermediate positions at FAC and Altach, breakthrough came in 2019 at French second-division club Clermont Foot. “That’s where I found my forward instinct and scored goals.” The reward was a ten million euro transfer from Ligue 1 to Lorient.
The club is currently ranked 17th, just one spot ahead of first place relegation. “We had a difficult start, but we have a good team and I think we will find our way back to the court,” Grbić said, reporting that his club had an “unknown style of play.” “We are playing a lot up front.”
Schaub happy for his usual place near Lucerne
Schaub is friends with the orderly game of short passing. The Viennese can once again pursue this passion as a regular at FC Luzern after having a difficult time at Hamburger SV and 1. FC Köln. “The summer was not easy for me. I knew HSV could not continue and that they did not want me in Cologne either,” said the midfielder.
He then kept fit for a short time in Austria before the loan deal with Lucerne came through. “It seems like I’ve done everything right. I don’t see that as a step backwards either. It’s fun that I can play again.” Schaub did not dare to predict what his situation would be like at the end of the season. “It is difficult to plan something in football. Everything is open at the moment.”
For Schaub, the focus is not currently on the club, but on the national team. However, in the Nations League duel with Norway, the role of joker will likely be reserved for the 25-year-old. “I prefer to play from the beginning, but when you come in and score goals, that’s a quality that I can live with quite well.”
See you again with Berisha
Following the Norwegian roster change, a virtually unknown rival awaits on Wednesday. “This is a completely new situation for us. It will be difficult to adapt to the opponent, but our video analyst will prepare a lot,” Schaub assumed.
At least one Norwegian player is familiar with the Swiss legionnaire: he played with Veton Berisha in Rapid. There was no contact recently. “But of course I am happy when I can meet an old teammate,” said Schaub. If Berisha really breaks into the ÖFB team, he will be saved from a duel with Aleksandar Dragović: the Leverkusen legionnaire is absent due to a yellow card penalty. Team boss Franco Foda resigned a later nomination.
What
