Morale boost fuels Austria’s unexpected Nations League Siegen
Austria’s national side have secured two consecutive Nations League victories, a result that has taken many observers by surprise. The wins against Israel and Kosovo arrived despite a group that is widely regarded as one of the weaker in the competition. Coach highlighted the morale boost as a key factor.
Tough win over Israel
Österreich’s Nations‑League group is certainly not the strongest, yet the side had to begin the campaign against Israel. The match proved a gritty affair, but the final result outweighed the difficulties on the pitch. Coach stressed that the two late goals were decisive.
The late strikes lifted the squad’s confidence, and the Moral of the players with the two late goals was singled out as a vital component of the victory. Maintaining a positive mindset after a hard‑fought game was described as essential for future fixtures.
Improved display versus Kosovo
Against Kosovo the performance was markedly better, with the team showing greater fluidity and control. The win felt almost surprising to the coach, given the changes that had taken place since the previous match.
Marko Arnautovic has retired, and several key pillars such as David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, Christoph Baumgartner and Konrad Laimer were absent. Their absence reshaped the ÖFB team hierarchy and forced younger players into more prominent roles.
Because of those alterations, the coach admitted that the two victories were far from guaranteed. The unexpected success has reinforced belief that the Team can compete even when missing established stars.
The atmosphere at the Happel Stadium was almost full for the Kosovo game, a level of support that was not a given after the World Cup. The enthusiastic crowd contributed to the feeling that the fire within the side is still burning.
Having extended their home run, Austria now travels to Dublin for the next away fixture. While an away win would be ideal, the coach concedes that a draw would also be an acceptable outcome.
Among the newcomers, 19‑year‑old goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky exudes composure and confidence, and could soon become Austria’s first‑choice keeper. Defender David Affengruber and Nikolas Veratschnig add depth, while Vasilije Markovic, Christoph Lang and Sascha Horvath provide further options. Former striker Marc Janko, now a Sky analyst, recalled that he featured 70 Mal for the national team, scoring 28 goals.