ÖFB anticipation for Germans: “We are the leisurely country”

In the test match on Tuesday (8.45 p.m./live ORF 1) in Vienna, coach Ralf Rangnick’s team would like to set a tone for EURO 2024 after successful European Championship qualification. You don’t see any special rivalry with the DFB team, a lot of the mentality is the same, “except that we are simply the smoother country,” said Maximilian Wöber with a smile.

The Mönchengladbach professional is one of twelve players in the current ÖFB squad who earn their money in the German Bundesliga. Instead of rivalry, there was more talk of a brotherly duel at a media event on Saturday. Philipp Lienhart said he knew most of the German players, but they approached the match like any other. “We don’t need to make the game bigger than it is,” said the SC Freiburg central defender.

“A completely normal working day”

Leipzig legionnaire Xaver Schlager even sees the duel as a “normal working day”. “Of course it’s something cool to play against them, but I can’t put a friendly game above a qualifying game. It would be nice if we could meet the Germans in a competition game,” said the 26-year-old, who has the big one Neighbors have only had good experiences so far. “They actually like us Austrians. They think we’re completely fine. I think the rivalry is more on our side. For them, I think it’s more like proving that they’re better than us.”

For Wöber it is about further development of the ÖFB team. They want to show “that we can keep up with the best in the world and belong there.” Lienhart added: “It’s an important game because we want to end the international year well and positively. Of course you can also present yourself to the coach again with a view to the European Championships.”

Lienhart is likely to face Niclas Füllkrug for the third time in just a few months in the match against national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team. “Twice since July alone, once at Bremen and once at Dortmund. He is a powerful striker, strong in the air, but also very good at playing. In any case, we have to take care of him.”

“I wouldn’t see myself as the favorite”

Schlager doesn’t want to be forced into the role of favorite against the Germans, who have been weakening in recent years. “If you take the international games, what they have under their belt and what we have, then there is a huge difference, i.e. Champions League experience. I wouldn’t see myself as a favorite, on the contrary.” The midfielder has also seen an upward trend in the DFB team since Nagelsmann was signed. “I do believe that they will find their way back to their old strength.”

Meanwhile, Lienhart sees a new strength in his own team. “I think we have taken a real step forward in the last one and a half or two years. We won against Italy and also mastered the European Championship qualification very confidently. From that point of view, I believe that the team has matured “We may have grown even closer together.”

Flame of enthusiasm

Everyone is currently very happy to join the national team, said the 27-year-old. “If everyone is happy at work, then you do better. You notice that and we can currently convey that to the fans. That’s why we’ve managed to ignite a certain euphoria.”

This flame of enthusiasm should continue to shine in all its glory on Tuesday in the packed Ernst Happel Stadium. And that’s where you realize, at least with Wöber, that the game against Germany isn’t a completely normal one and how important a good result is. “I definitely don’t want to come back to the dressing room in Gladbach and listen to some stupid sayings. I’d rather be the one who says something stupid,” explained the Borussia defender, still smiling.