[ad_1]
After a break of almost 300 days, the Austrian soccer team plays again today, and Norway awaits the start in Oslo. Franco Foda, ÖFB team leader, reveals ideas and problem areas.
Oslo. Waiting time is over. The Austrian soccer team has not played an international match for almost ten months. The reunion in Pörtschach as part of the team’s camp was therefore accompanied by euphoria, the team boss Franco Foda also received many newcomers because fixed stars like David Alaba or Marko Arnautović had canceled. And tonight the time has come at the Ullevi Stadium in Oslo: the ÖFB team is starting the Nations League season. In performance group B, Norway (8.45pm, ORF1 live) awaits as the opening opponent. The other partners are Romania and Northern Ireland.
So, Foda faces several challenges. In addition to the long hiatus and prominent absenteeism, it is mainly affected by the various fitness levels of its actors. Some came on vacation, some for preparation, just a few from games. “There are some problems, we don’t have to keep quiet about that,” said the German. “There is a lack of automatism and rhythm.” Whether they are missing (Laimer and Lazaro are also missing), the newcomers will have their chance, especially the 21-year-old Christoph Baumgartner from Hoffenheim and the Lorient legionnaire Adrian Grbić, 24. “This is your first time there. . You can’t expect miracles from one day to the next. But it’s important to see how they behave within the team. “
Many plans and systems
The team boss wants to expand his squad for qualification for the World Cup and the European Championship in the summer of 2021. “It would be negligent to plan with 20 players,” he says, and the League of Nations, which is Suppose he will forget the friendlies, he would arrive at the right time.
Norway is missing with Martin Ödegaard (Real Madrid), but Foda is also thinking about the penalty area of Erling Håland of Salzburg, who remains without a goal in the national team. “It has a high individual quality. Our defense has shown many times that he can look good against the best forwards. I assume we have it under control. “
It is open with which game system it should be successful. To be prepared for a duo of storms, Foda could rely on a three-way chain of defense. Marcel Sabitzer would act as the second hanging forward in the 3-5-2 system. In possession of the ball, Foda has a fast game on the wings, classic model: 4-2-3-1.
In the middle of the storm, Foda has to choose between Michael Gregoritsch and Grbić. The experience in the team speaks for Gregoritsch, the form of Grbić. The 24-year-old scored 17 goals in the French second division last season. After a transfer of 10 million to first division Lorient, he has already scored for his new club. However from the penalty spot.
Criticisms of UEFA
Foda has to control the load correctly, the match against Romania continues on Monday in Klagenfurt (also in front of empty stands). In this sense, and if the calendar was tight in autumn, she expressed her incomprehension that only three changes are allowed in the League of Nations, in contrast to the five in other national and international competitions. “Especially in the national team, where the players who arrive there ultimately have more stress,” criticized Foda, saying it was not possible. Why? It is the work of bureaucrats. Foda: “That is really irresponsible for me from Uefa.” (End)
