ÖFB team in Belgrade without Baumgartner and Prass-great worries about the second leg!

ÖFB team in Belgrade without Baumgartner and Prass-great worries about the second leg!

Bitter news for the Austrian national team: In the decisive second leg against Serbia in the UEFA Nations League, coach Ralf Rangnick has to do without two key players. Christoph Baumgartner from RB Leipzig suffered a slight concussion in the first leg, while Alexander Prass, who was already lacking in the first duel due to ankle problems, does not become fit in time. This reported both laola1.at href = "https://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/19496350/hirnerschuetterung-christoph-baumgartner-zipass-rueckspiel-in"> Kleinezeitung.at .

The incident happened during the game in Ernst Happel Stadion when Baumgartner fell to the ground a few minutes after the break after a head collision with an opponent and was short-term passed out. Despite this injury, he played another 20 minutes before he was replaced. A comeback on Sunday in Belgrade was already unlikely, since the FIFA has imposed strict protocols for the return of players after head injuries. Baumgartner has already played 49 caps in his career and scored 18 goals, most recently he missed a game in September 2023 in the European Championship qualification. The failures of these two players represent a significant challenge for the Austrian team, which wants to use the chance to return to the league A of the Nations League.

The absence of Baumgartner and Prass forces Rangnick to rethink his tactics for the second leg in Belgrade. The Austrian football community hopes that the substitute players can fill these gaps to keep the chance of promotion. The situation remains tense, while the team leadership meets the final preparations for this decisive meeting.