On Monday (8.45 p.m. / live ORF 1) the ÖFB selection will welcome last year’s European Championship semi-finalists Denmark, who landed a surprising 2-1 away win against world champions France on Friday, in Vienna’s Happel Stadium. Nevertheless, team boss Ralf Rangnick believes in the chance of another three points for his team.
However, it will be important to stop the Danes from playing. “This is a technical team that likes to have possession of the ball. We can’t let them play and we can’t give them a lot of time and space. As a footballer, there is hardly anything more frustrating than having to chase the ball,” Rangnick explained on Sunday at the Closing press conference in Vienna.
The team boss has a high opinion of the Danes. “All players have a top mentality, a top attitude, so we have to be prepared that it won’t be a match that we can play on the side.” The ÖFB team felt the quality of the Danes in the past World Cup qualifier. In March of the previous year, there was a historic 0:4 home debacle in the World Cup qualifier in the Vienna Prater, in the following October you also had no chance in the 0:1 in Copenhagen.
Rangnick watched these two games as well as the success of the 1992 European champions in the Stade de France via video study. “Many didn’t expect to win in France. But it wasn’t a coincidence and it wasn’t a lucky win.” The Danes started with a back three against the “Bleus” and switched to a 4-3-3 with 25 minutes to go from 0:1. “That’s why we have to be prepared for both variants,” warned Rangnick.
However, the German does not want to orientate himself too much on the opponent. “We want to try to perform like we did in Osijek in the last hour from the start,” said Rangnick. “It’s about our principles, no matter how the opponent plays.” The coach also said: “We will only be able to successfully contest the match when the intensity is back and the opponent feels our power.”
Rangnick expects Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand to make some changes to the starting lineup compared to the match against France. “I don’t think many coaches seriously consider having the same players in all four games. It doesn’t make sense, especially with the way we play.”
Rangnick left it open how far-reaching the rotations in the ÖFB team will be. “What changes are made depends on what we see in training today.” In any case, the starting formation will not be identical to that of the Croatia game. “I also want to give others the opportunity to show themselves. The question is to what extent we actually rotate.”
At least in the goalie position there should be a change, as Rangnick indicated. “I also want to see other goalkeepers, so it’s quite possible that someone else will play.” Fixed starters are Christoph Baumgartner and David Alaba, the latter will act as captain. “I have known him since he was 18. Everyone knows that he is a down-to-earth person and that his career has not changed him or that he has lost his grip on the ground,” said Rangnick about Alaba.
Despite his success, Alaba is still driven by great ambition and shows this in every training session, said the national coach. “Maybe that has something to do with the ‘mia san mia’ from his Bayern days,” Rangnick suspected. Alaba, who will soon be 30, is the logical captain and can still play for the national team at EURO 2024 and the 2026 World Cup if Austria qualifies.
Another key player for the national team, Marko Arnautovic, stayed in the dressing room in Croatia with a slight muscle problem. Rangnick gave the Bologna professional the all-clear – Arnautovic had not suffered any structural injury and was available against Denmark. Should the Viennese be used, he would complete his 100th international match.
Source: Nachrichten
