Image: RAIGO PAJULA (AFP)
Not only the test match victory against the EURO 2024 hosts itself, but above all the way in which it came about, made the 65-year-old sing hymns of praise for the ÖFB selection in the Happel Stadium late on Tuesday evening. “I love my boys, I love this team,” exulted Rangnick.Wien. The performance against the team from his home country “was the best game we showed during my time in office,” explained the national coach. “The victory was deserved, even at this level. I’m particularly pleased that we kept a clean sheet and that we actually had the game under control in every phase. The boys converted all the points.”
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Play courageously, show enthusiasm and switch quickly, were Rangnick’s instructions – and they were impressively fulfilled. “We invested maximum energy in every position. It was a victory for a real team,” summed up the team boss.
“They play like friends”
According to Rangnick, a key reason for the recent success is the positive mood within the selection. “There’s a lot of energy in this team. They play like friends and behave like that during the course. You could feel that a close-knit group was playing together.”
The day before the Germany game, the team spirit was promoted again with a spontaneously organized team evening, and the next party followed immediately after the final whistle. “There aren’t many national teams that create such an atmosphere in the dressing room after a game,” said Rangnick.
The general cheering mood was also clearly noticeable among the fans in the full Happel Stadium. “It was a test match with great conditions. The energy in the stadium was great,” said Rangnick. At the European Championships we should celebrate together with the supporters again. “Hopefully a lot of Austrians will come along, but it won’t be the same home game atmosphere as today,” suspected the ÖFB coach.
Austria is at the top when it comes to applications for tickets
A mass influx of local fans is to be expected, as the UEFA figures alone suggest after the first phase of ticket sales. After Germany, England, France and Spain, most of the applications came from Austria – even though the venues, dates and opponents of the ÖFB selection have not yet been determined.
There will be clarity in this regard on December 2nd, when the EM groups will be drawn in Hamburg. Rangnick has no ideal opponents. “We’ll just see what happens.” The fact that David Alaba and Co. made it into the second pot doesn’t have to be an advantage. The Netherlands and Croatia are threatened from pot three, and Italy, Serbia and Switzerland from pot four. Duels with pot two teams such as Albania or Hungary are excluded. “When I look at the pots, I don’t know whether the second or third would have been better,” admitted Rangnick.
“I’m not worried about that”
Nevertheless, the German remained calm. “If we have everyone on board, we can beat anyone. Today’s game showed it again. I’m not worried about that, no matter who we get drawn.” The goal for the final round is clear: “We want to progress, no matter which group we are in.”
The confidence for the European Championship is clearly noticeable in the team boss, as well as in his players. According to Rangnick, there is no danger of this developing into arrogance. “I’m not worried at all, the boys are far too intelligent and down-to-earth. They know that this doesn’t just fall into our laps from heaven, but that it takes a lot of commitment.”
The view of reality will not be lost just because a prominent opponent like Germany has been dominated. “There is no one here who believes we are Real Madrid as a national team,” emphasized Rangnick. “We are not a team that primarily plays magic football or red-white-red ballet. We are clear about attitude and mentality.”
Rangnick has to wait four months until the next meeting with his selection. Two test matches are scheduled for March, two more will follow at the beginning of June, and opponents and venues are still being sought. The EURO starts on June 14th.
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Source: Nachrichten
