Austria's football heroes start their World Cup qualifiers against Romania!

Austria's football heroes start their World Cup qualifiers against Romania!

Austria's national soccer team is about to make a decisive start to its World Cup qualification. On June 6, 2025, the players will face Romania in the sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. Kick-off is at 8:45 p.m. Team boss Ralf Rangnick and his protégés rely on energy, intensity and the support of the home fans to achieve their goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Konrad Laimer, who fought for a regular place at Bayern Munich, is a key member of the team. He has established himself as a key player since 2022 and is optimistic: “We can win against any opponent if we implement our game.” After an intensive week of training in Seefeld, the focus is on solid game building, which Rangnick sees as essential for the duel against Romania.

Importance of the game

Rangnick considers the encounter with Romania to be extremely important. He emphasizes: “We have to do something different than in the past in order to qualify.” Austria is not only aiming for a victory, but also wants to carry on the euphoria and positive atmosphere in the team. Laimer emphasizes that the team is well prepared, even though Romania is considered the strongest group opponent.

The chance of a place in the World Cup is considered to be great in Group H. Austria has not taken part in a World Cup since 1998 and will do everything in its power to change that. Laimer is convinced that the team has the potential to be successful if they consistently implement their own style of play. Rangnick has already decided on his starting eleven and wants to go into the game without experimenting.

Positioning and tactics

In defense, captain David Alaba will be sorely missed, while Gernot Trauner is also out. Kevin Danso and Philipp Lienhart form the central defense, flanked by the full-backs Stefan Posch and Philipp Mwene. Patrick Pentz is expected to be in goal as Alexander Schlager is injured. Laimer expects to play in the midfield center alongside Nicolas Seiwald and sees himself in his strongest role there.

Rangnick warns of the Romanians' strong dribbling wingers, Dennis Man and Florin Tanase, who can cause a lot of danger. In addition, the fitness and performance of Marko Arnautovic and Michael Gregoritsch up front will be relied upon, with Mathias Honsak also being considered as a joker. The Romanian team is under pressure after losing their last game against Bosnia and will do everything in their power to maintain their chances of qualifying.

Support from the fans will be crucial and Rangnick is confident that the good atmosphere in the stadium will help the players. “We have to bring maximum energy and strong pressing,” said the team boss, who prepares the players for an intense game. With broad support and a positive attitude, Austria is looking forward to the home game with confidence.

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