Baumgartner's top form gives Austria hope of Nations League

Christoph Baumgartner returns for the Austrian national team after his serious thigh injury that cost him participation in the World Cup. He will make his comeback live on ORF1 at 20:45 on Saturday against Ireland and on Tuesday against Israel in the UEFA Nations League.

Injury and Absence

While warming up for the last World Cup test match against Tunisia (1-0) in early June, the 27-year-old forward suffered a serious tendon injury in his thigh and had to watch the World Cup comeback phase in North America from the bench after surgery.

Comeback and Future

Almost half a year later, at the end of October, he celebrated his comeback for RB Leipzig in the Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Estadio Bernabeu, where he, as a super‑sub, provided an assist despite Leipzig losing 1-4. In the subsequent appearances he scored a double in the DFB Cup against RW Essen and added two league goals. In football he collected five scorer points in six Leipzig games and returned in top form.

On ORF the 27‑year‑old said he was in top shape and that after a long time it made him happy to be back on the pitch. At the team camp in Vienna he emphasized that he only lacks playing minutes and that it would be unrealistic to play two full 90‑minute matches, but he feels great.

He still regards World Cup participation as one of his biggest goals and believes he still has one or two chances to qualify, while his focus is currently on the tasks in the Nations League. Baumgartner said he is ready to be in the starting eleven, but the decision lies with the coach, and he wants to stay on the pitch as long as his strength allows.

Head coach Ralf Rangnick was pleased at the squad announcement to have Baumgartner back in the ranks and noted that one could not come back better from an injury. In the Austrian FA team Baumgartner has so far made 58 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing 14 assists.

Without him and other star players the Austrians remained unbeaten in the Nations League opener against Israel, Kosovo and Ireland and laid the foundation for a possible group win. Baumgartner noted that he had seen a great energy in the squad. A win against Ireland would bring the team back into League A.

He sees room for improvement in breaking down deep‑lying opponents, emphasizes pressing as his forte, and hopes that everything together will restore the flow as it was before his serious injury.