Regardless of the result and performance in the 0:2 of the Austrian national soccer team in Denmark, the first winners and losers of the restart in Austrian soccer have already emerged. Who benefits from the new development and who is left behind?
+ The fans: The national team is finally showing the kind of football that everyone would like to see. Pressing, more risk in opening the game, plus a team in which the hierarchies are clearly distributed. The viewers like that – and will also increase the credit if the results don’t always match.
+ The team boss: It shouldn’t be forgotten that Ralf Rangnick had faced opposition after his presentation, especially in Vienna. It is not enough to have worked at Manchester United to assert yourself against the local heroes without objection when looking for a team manager. The first impressions give the team boss the necessary calm. Now it’s a matter of continuing down the path and finding the fine tuning.
+ Marko Arnautovic: Actually already done with the national team, he has accepted the new leadership role. The willingness to run is the biggest indicator of this. Even if it’s only for a half or 60 minutes.
+ Xaver Schlager, Konrad Laimer: The midfield duo was also used at Franco Foda, but now the two are also in the front row internally. Behind it, Nicolas Seiwald pointed up.
+ Gernot Trauner: Not even called up by Franco Foda anymore, he stands more than any other defender for the controlled build-up Rangnick demanded.
+ David Alaba: The defense chief brought top performances, Rangnick has clearly declared him number one in the team. That’s why positions are no longer discussed – Alaba stays in central defense and is no longer an issue for the left side. He obviously likes that.
+ Andreas Weiman: Nobody actually expected the Bristol City legionnaire. He embodies what Rangnick demands: full commitment in every training session – hence the regular assignments.
– Aleksandar Dragovic: The 100-time team player will have a hard time coming back under Rangnick. This has to do with the new style of play, which requires different qualities. Christopher Trimmel and Marco Friedl were there, but couldn’t really recommend themselves.
– Hannes Wolf: The fact that Ralf Rangnick surprisingly called him up for the team, but then didn’t play, speaks volumes. The training performance should not have been so convincing to bite through in the competition. Goalie Martin Fraisl did not play either. But that only had to do with the top performances of the competitors.
– Sasa Kalajdzic: The transfer speculation to FC Bayern could have left their mark: the two-meter man was not yet big in his missions. He seemed like a foreign body and overwhelmed with the pace.
Source: Nachrichten
