Rangnick's squad selection casts doubt on Austria's fresh start
On Monday 21 September, the Austrian squad gathered in Windischgarsten at 14:00, as Ralf Rangnick prepared to unveil his Nations League roster. It has been ten weeks since the team bowed out in the round of 16 against Spain at the World Cup in the United States, and the players have not met since.
The coach will announce a squad for the Nations League fixtures at the end of September and the beginning of October, marking what could be a new era for the national side.
Squad composition and age profile
Most of the roster will be drawn from the World Cup squad, with seasoned players such as David Laimer (29), Xaver Schlager (28), Stefan Seiwald (25), Andreas Posch (29) and Patrick Lienhart (30) still in their prime. Apart from Marko Arnautović, no veteran has announced retirement, though Maximilian Wöber (27) may make a comeback after missing the tournament through injury.
Potential debutants like Jacob Peter Hödl and Nikolaus Wurmbrand are unlikely to feature, as Rangnick is expected to respect the U21 commitments that coincide with upcoming qualification matches.
Other candidates include Sascha Horvath, who has performed well, 19‑year‑old Salzburg goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky, and Salzburg captain Nikolas Veratschnig (23), who previously appeared in the squad without playing.
Match schedule and stakes
After the squad meeting, Austria will travel to Linz for a home game against Israel three days later, then host Kosovo in Vienna. The programme continues with an away match in Dublin against Ireland on 1 October, followed by a visit to Kosovo on 4 October – the first time four Nations League fixtures are packed into a single window.
These matches offer a backdoor to Euro 2028: if qualification falters, a Nations League group‑winner could still secure a tournament spot. Poor results against Israel, Ireland or Kosovo could also dampen the morale that has surrounded the team since the World Cup.
Whether this new era will materialise hinges on the upcoming fixtures; a fresh start appears unlikely given the continuity of the core squad and the limited scope for radical changes.