Rangnick gives Austria new champion after World Cup

While in the summer many fans asked how the Austrian national team would look after the World Cup in the USA, which stars are missing and whether Ralf Rangnick wants to start a fresh start, the Nations League after four matches provides clear answers and shows which players now count as winners.

In the summer fans asked the questions about the appearance of the team after the World Cup, about the absent stars and about a possible fresh start under Ralf Rangnick. The answers came with the Nations League. A fresh start was not announced, a overhaul remains vague, but Rangnick gave the squad a blood refresh without introducing new playing principles.

Group leadership and promotion chances

Before this national‑team appointment there were numerous uncertainties. In the four Nations‑League matches Austria beat Kosovo twice, won against Ireland and Israel and therefore leads group B3 with eight points. A home win against Ireland on 14 November in Linz would secure promotion back to the league of the big nations, the subsequent away match in Debrecen against Israel three days later would be an additional test.

Casting for the future

Rangnick used the four encounters to hold a casting. Nine new players were nominated, all got playing time and none disappointed, so the team now has a pleasant situation and genuine freedom of choice at several positions.

Schlager shines after Nottingham‑Forest‑move

The 29‑year‑old Xaver Schlager asked for his substitution in the World Cup match against Algeria, as Rangnick confirmed. His move to Nottingham Forest proved to be the right one, coach Oliver Glasner got him back into physical shape, and Schlager completed all four Nations‑League games without interruption. He is considered a player that nobody wants to face, because he acts skillfully in duels.

Danso becomes a centre‑back pillar

The 28‑year‑old Daniel Danso celebrated his team debut nine years ago and stood for a long time behind Dragović, Hinteregger, Alaba, Lienhart and Wöber. In the four Nations‑League matches he put the other centre‑backs in the shade, showed deficits in the weak first half in Dublin, but in Kosovo became a supporting pillar with good positioning, many clearances and physical presence in the air.

Wimmer uses Sabitzer’s absence

The 25‑year‑old Philipp Wimmer used the absence of Marcel Sabitzer, earned four starts and improved his pressing as well as the quick transition. He prepared two goals and recently said: “I have now reached an age where you say I am no longer a talent … My batteries are completely full.”

At the first press conference after the World Cup on 14 September Ralf Rangnick made clear that in the future other things will be handled differently. The 68‑year‑old coach tightened the reins, made numerous correct decisions and thereby created a situation in which earlier merits lose significance and the competition for places is stronger than ever.