Alaba surprises: comeback with light and shadow against Serbia

Alaba surprises: comeback with light and shadow against Serbia

In the run-up to the decisive Nations League playoff second leg against Serbia, the Austrian national team is in an exciting situation. ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick praised comeback player David Alaba for his impressive performance in the first leg, which ended 1-1. “For me, David played an absolutely top game,” said Rangnick. Alaba showed himself to be physically strong after his long injury break and impressed with his precise build-up play. However, it remains unclear whether he will also start in the second leg in Belgrade. “If he stays healthy, then he has actually shown that he can get back to his old form,” continued Rangnick, who also encouraged the rest of the team to put in a concentrated performance.

The players are ready for the challenge, even if there are some personnel shortages. Loud krone.at, Christoph Baumgartner will not be there due to injury, while Konrad Laimer returns after his yellow card suspension. Rangnick points out that the game remains open given the opposition's defense. “The game is completely open after 94 minutes,” explained the coach. The goal remains clear: promotion to League A of the Nations League. The team has sold 43,000 tickets for the second leg, and Rangnick is optimistic that his team can make better use of the opportunities: “We don’t have to be so wasteful with the big opportunities.” Defensive strategies will also be reviewed; fresh players could be used in the second leg to increase the sprinting and running intensity.

Lineups and key players

The starting lineup could change in Belgrade, especially in defense. Players like Philipp Mwene could replace Stefan Posch. In addition, Mönchengladbach legionnaire Stefan Lainer, who is back in the squad after a year off, could bring valuable experience. “He also knows the style of play from his time in Salzburg,” emphasized Rangnick. At the same time, Alexander Schlager will be put to the test again in goal, with the coach emphasizing that his previous performances could give him a slight advantage. The final player observation will be crucial in order to best implement the tactical considerations for the crucial second leg.