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The Austrian team is awaiting the first practical test after a long break in Corona on Friday (8:45 p.m. on the SPOX live ticker and on DAZN). For almost ten months, the selection of team boss Franco Foda did not play an international match. At the start of the Nations League, Norway will face an unpleasant opponent in Oslo, who are particularly well placed on offense.
Foda faces several challenges. In addition to the long break from international matches and outstanding absenteeism, there is above all the different level of physical form of its players. Some came for vacation, some for preparation, some for games. “There are some problems, we don’t have to keep quiet about that,” said the German. “The automatisms and rhythm are still missing.”
Due to the failures of David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic, some young players will have their chance. “There will definitely be a rookie,” Foda announced. Hoffenheim youth Christoph Baumgartner and French legionary Adrian Grbic can raise your hopes. “Sure, the players are young, it’s their first time. You can’t expect miracles overnight,” Foda said. “But it is still important to see how you behave within the team.”
The team boss wants to expand his squad in order to qualify for the World Cup and the European Championship. “Planning next year with 20 players would be remiss.” In the last international match so far, a 1-0 win over Latvia last November, which was also lacking a large number of regulars, neither player had recommended themselves. 290 days later, the next opportunity exists at the empty Ullevaal stadium in Oslo. Foda also highlighted the importance of the Nations League, in which Austria is playing for promotion in Group 1 of League B: “We want to try to get to first place. Besides, it is also important that we get used to it.”
Norway lacks the game designer with Real Madrid’s Martin Odegaard. “We want to be the most active team and play fast with ball possession,” Foda said. He showed respect for the Norwegian offense against former Salzburg Erling Haaland. “He has great individual quality. Our defense has shown it often enough that they can look good against the best forwards. I guess then we’ll also have Haaland under control.”
Franco Foda: “Our training will change a bit”
It is open with which game system it should be successful. To be prepared for a storm duo of Norwegians, Foda could rely on a three-way chain of defense. Key player Marcel Sabitzer would likely act as the second hanging forward in the 3-5-2 system. “We will change our formation a bit if we have the ball,” Foda revealed. So the whole thing could also be represented as 4-2-3-1. Due to failures, players would have to help out on wings that otherwise rarely occupy this position, such as Baumgartner.
In the center of the storm, Foda has to choose between Michael Gregoritsch and Grbic. Gregoritsch’s experience on the team speaks for him and Grbic’s form. The 24-year-old scored 17 goals in the French second division last season. After a transfer of 10 million euros to first division Lorient, he has already scored for his new club.
Foda has to control the load as there will be a home game against Romania on Monday in Klagenfurt. Not all the players trained fully this week. The team boss also expressed his misunderstanding that only three changes are allowed in the League of Nations even in the days of Corona, in contrast to five in other national and international competitions. “Especially in the national team, where the players who arrive have more stress,” criticized Foda. “For me, from UEFA, this is irresponsible.”
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