The 16-year-old from Bayern Munich will not be used in the two friendlies on Wednesday in Malaga against Andorra and on Sunday in Vienna against Italy, the ÖFB announced on Monday. In addition to Wanner, team boss Ralf Rangnick also nominated Muhammed Cham and Rapid goalkeeper Niklas Hedl for the first time due to the absences of Daniel Bachmann, Patrick Wimmer and Karim Onisiwo.
Wanner was expected at the team camp in Andalusia on Monday afternoon. The midfielder is an Austrian-German dual citizen. The exceptional talent, the youngest player in Bayern history in the German Bundesliga and in the Champions League, has so far only been used in German junior national teams.
“Get an impression of the ÖFB”
According to ÖFB information, Wanner should “be given the opportunity in southern Spain to get a detailed impression of the ÖFB and to get to know the coaching team around Ralf Rangnick and the team”. However, it was agreed that Wanner would not be used in the next two international matches. Rangnick had previously invited the hope for the future to the ÖFB for the course for perspective players in Croatia (November 21 to 25) that followed the Italian match.
Wanner has an Austrian mother and a German father. He was born in Dornbirn, but grew up mostly in Baden-Württemberg. In January, just 15 days after his 16th birthday, Wanner made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern. In October, coach Julian Nagelsmann also used him for the first time in the Champions League – at that time as a left-back. The all-rounder has played five league and two CL games for the Bayern pros in his career so far, accumulating 80 minutes of action.
Have been trying to get Wanner for a long time
The ÖFB – in the person of sports director Peter Schöttel – had already tried to recruit Wanner before Rangnick took office. The youngster has played his international matches in the German U17 and U18, but could still switch to the Austrian association. DFB director Oliver Bierhoff had already pointed out the higher chances of winning the title with German selections last winter. In Austria, however, Wanner could possibly benefit from senior international matches when he was younger.
The need for subsequent nominations had arisen for Rangnick due to failures in the ÖFB team. Onisiwo was substituted in the closing stages of FSV Mainz’s league game against Frankfurt (1-1) on Saturday. According to the ÖFB, the striker is suffering from a foot injury and will be replaced by Cham, who originally did not receive clearance from his club Clermont Foot for the perspective player camp in Croatia. Wimmer was absent from VfL Wolfsburg at the weekend due to a flu infection.
Bachmann distinguished himself in the 0-0 draw against Bristol City in the second English division with a brilliant save against his ÖFB teammate Andreas Weimann. The first ÖFB course under Rangnick will not work for the 28-year-old. Austria’s EM goalkeeper had to withdraw due to Achilles tendon problems. Because Patrick Pentz did not receive clearance from his French club Stade de Reims, Heinz Lindner should have the best cards for the duel with Italy. The Sion keeper has played three out of six games under Rangnick so far.
Hedl was called up to the A-Team for the first time. The 21-year-old son of ex-goalie Raimund Hedl was promoted to Rapid’s first-choice goalkeeper last spring. He was also scheduled for Rangnick’s perspective course, which the German will hold next week together with U21 team boss Werner Gregoritsch.
Source: Nachrichten
