Austria against Serbia: EM dream in the playoff first leg!

Austria against Serbia: EM dream in the playoff first leg!

In the prestigious playoff first leg of the UEFA Nations League, the Austrian national football team meets Serbia this evening in the sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. With 46,400 passionate fans in the back, the team, controlled by team boss Ralf Rangnick, wants to lay the foundation for the return to the highest division. The starting situation is explosive: after four wins in a row since the last home defeat against Belgium in October 2023, Austria also wants to ensure that the momentum takes you to the World Cup qualification in June, as the Krone reported.

The personnel situation is tense, however, since both teams have to deal with considerable injury problems. Rangnick has to do without key players like Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, Marcel Sabitzer and the suspended Konrad Laimer. Nevertheless, the coach is optimistic: "We have to think a little 'out of the box' in one or the other position," he emphasized. This could lead to the defensive midfielder Nicolas Seiwald not alone, but is supplemented by more creativity on the offensive. Kevin Stöger or Marco Grüll are considered possible alternatives, while the storm center will probably take over Marko Arnautovic. In defense, the returning David Alaba Alongside Philipp Lienhart is expected, while the goalkeeper question between Patrick Pentz and Alexander Schlager remains open, as from