[ad_1]
If an opportunity arises, it must be seized. For Christoph Baumgartner, a newcomer to the Austrian soccer team, this saying has come true several times. Tomorrow she could get her first minutes of play in the FB team’s UEFA Nations League game in Norway.
Whenever an opportunity arose for the player of the German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, he was fully present. The fact that the 21-year-old has just been called up for the first time by FB team boss Franco Foda has to do with numerous rejections from the squad. Sooner or later, however, there would have been no way around the native region of Waldviertel, whose previous career has been in every respect like a picture book.
Since it was relatively easy for him to do so in school, he switched directly from sixth to eighth grade at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium (BORG) in St. Plten, thus skipping a year. Nothing was given. As often happens in life, everything is a matter of the head. In addition to training on the sports field, many additional shifts were taken when studying at home.
The attacking midfielder wanted to graduate from high school before the planned jump to Germany. The move to Hoffenheim followed in the summer of 2019. First in the U19 team, then in the U23 team, where Julian Nagelsmann, the then head coach of the Hoffenheim Bundesliga kicker, was a regular guest.
Just six months after starting at Hoffenheim, he received his first professional contract. It was only a matter of time before Baumgartner was allowed to celebrate his Bundesliga debut. On May 11, the 1-0 draw against Werder Bremen was finally ready. He has now scored seven goals in his 28 Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim. Baumgartner’s contract runs through the summer of 2023.
Baumgartner was already a key player on the Austrian Under-21 team at the European Championship last year in Italy. His missed penalty in the decisive game against Denmark did not fit the picture at all. Baumgartner didn’t intend to be a penalty taker, but he wanted to take responsibility. “In hindsight, it didn’t hurt because you can tell that things don’t always go up.”
In the center or on the wing
If risk is required against Norway, Baumgartner could be used in offensive midfield, both in the center and on the wing. “I’m an offensive player who likes to try something and maybe do something risky.”
FB-Team will take off this morning
The charter plane of the Austrian soccer team will take off from Klagenfurt for Oslo this morning, much earlier than usual. Starts at 9:30 am to allow ample time for mandatory on-site corona testing. If a player is positive, he will be isolated from the rest of the team.
Due to strict requirements, the mandatory quarantine actually valid in Norway for travelers from abroad can be bypassed.
Immediately after their return from Norway, the local players must undergo the next test on Vienna soil.
In order to have as little contact with the outside world as possible, the FB lineup on the charter plane is only accompanied by FB President Leo Windtner and the two FB CEOs, Thomas Hollerer and Bernhard Neuhold. All events related to the international match have been canceled, only the final training in Oslo takes place regularly at the stadium today.
Article of
Harald bartl
Sports editor
