Austria's national football team in front of a hot duel in Belgrade!

Austria's national football team in front of a hot duel in Belgrade!

In the legendary Marakana Stadium in Belgrade, a hotly competitive second leg against Serbia is waiting for the Austrian national football team. After a disappointing 1-1 in the first leg, the game on Sunday evening (6:00 p.m., live on ServusTV) is crucial for progress in the Nations League. When team boss Ralf Rangnick received the players in the Rajko Mitic stadium, the security measures were unusual, although no protests were announced against President Aleksandar Vučić, so krone.at . The Serbian press heated up the mood with provocative headlines and speaks of a "spectacle" that fans expect in the stadium.

The starting point for the Austrians is complicated: key player David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic are careful after injuries. Alaba recently celebrated his comeback after 16 months, and it remains uncertain how long he can stand on the pitch. Rangnick said that the health of the players has priority: "We will not break anyone on the knee just to somehow win the game." In the meantime, the Serbian defense star Nikola Milenkovic returns after a lock, which also reinforces the challenge for the ÖFB team, as Vol.at

preparation for an exciting duel

The Austrian team showed weaknesses in the last games, as Rangnick analyzed: "The relationship between goal opportunities and gates was not right." But the team is convinced that they are able to score the necessary goals. After all, the Austrians have remained unbeaten for five games. In a draw situation, the decision could only be made in extra time or in a penalty shootout, which would be a novelty in the history of the team in competitive games.