Sabitzer takes a break – national team loses key player

Marcel Sabitzer, 32, will not be available for Austria's national football team for the foreseeable future, the ÖFB announced on Sunday. After 102 caps and 27 goals for the national team, the legionnaire has decided to take a break.

Thus Sabitzer will miss the ÖFB team's opening matches in League B of the UEFA Nations League on 24 September in Linz against Israel and on 27 September at Vienna's Happel Stadium against Kosovo. The two games are considered important preparation for the Euro qualification matches.

A return for the Euro qualification matches is not ruled out for the Borussia Dortmund legionnaire, should he feel fit again after the break.

Intensive years lead to a break

"The past two years have been very intense," said Marcel Sabitzer. He has agreed with ÖFB team manager Ralf Rangnick to take a break until the end of the year, because he has practically played three seasons since Euro 2024 – the Club World Cup and FIFA World Cup being the reasons.

Sabitzer emphasized that the workload after more than a century of appearances for the national team makes recovery necessary. He wants to commit fully again to Austria's national football team after the break.

The ÖFB will now face the upcoming Nations League matches without Sabitzer and hopes that the player will return in time for the forthcoming Euro qualification matches.