Austrians set to grace global showpiece again after 28-year absence
Ralf Rangnick’s side kick off their campaign against Jordan in Group J
Reigning champions Argentina and Algeria also await them
The last time took part in the FIFA World Cup™, the man now in their dugout, Ralf Rangnick, had just masterminded Ulm’s promotion to the German second division. Current captain David Alaba, meanwhile, was finishing nursery school. Midfield anchor Nicolas Seiwald had not yet been born.
Clearly a lot has changed for Das Nationalteam since those days, and the squad at the is one of the most talented in the nation’s history, with Alaba and Seiwald just two examples of the top-class international pedigree among their ranks. What’s more, Rangnick – who has stamped his mark on the team since taking the reins in 2022 – has moulded this highly gifted group into a truly cohesive unit.
There is therefore a sense of cautious optimism around the Austrian camp as the team prepare to make their return to the global stage. It is easy to see why the Central Europeans are feeling upbeat ahead of their curtain-raiser against Jordan: they had an impressive qualifying campaign in which they won six of their eight encounters and recorded a goal difference of +18.
Rangnick’s troops are determined to make the most of their long-awaited return to the World Cup. As Xaver Schlager put it: “You work your whole life to make it here, and now we’re here!” It is fair to say, though, that there are some nerves mixed in with the excitement. “There’s a positive kind of pressure – it’s more like a sense of anticipation about experiencing something you wouldn’t normally get to do," he added.
Yet while they are elated to just be part of the action, the Austrians have not travelled to North America as tourists. Far from it. The 1954 bronze medallists are aiming to go as far as possible. “We have high hopes and expect a lot of ourselves: we’re very ambitious,” said striker Michael Gregoritsch.
Nevertheless, all concerned are under no illusions that progressing from a group containing World Cup holders Argentina, African heavyweights Algeria and debutants Jordan will not be easy. “They’re all good teams: that comes with the territory at a World Cup,” said the striker. “You’ve got to be at the top of your game in every match to be successful.”
That includes the game against Jordan, which the Austrians are not taking lightly, even though they are acutely aware that taking all three points from their opener could make all the difference given the magnitude of the tests in their remaining Group J fixtures. “They’re an extremely compact side who all work for each other,“ warned Gregoritsch. “It’s going to be a very tough match.”
Austria's togetherness was precisely one of the factors that central midfielder Schlager pointed to as being pivotal to his side's chances of prospering against Jordan and in their other games. He said: “The better the team perform, the better you can perform as an individual. At the end of the day, football remains a team sport. It’s all about the team’s success. The further the team go, the bigger the badge of pride will be for all of us after the World Cup.”
Speaking of after the World Cup, long-term stability looks to be guaranteed regardless of what happens in the tournament following the recent announcement that coach Rangnick has . Gregoritsch welcomed the move to extend the 67-year-old’s terms, describing it as a “very good, important and timely decision” that had given the team a real boost ahead of the tournament.
Captain Alaba echoed these sentiments. “We’re all absolutely over the moon about it,“ he said. “I think this is really positive news not just for the national team but for the whole of Austrian football, which will benefit for years to come.”
With Rangnick’s future now resolved, everyone in the Austria dressing room – including the coach himself – can sharpen their focus on the tournament and look forward to making a real impression on football’s ultimate stage.
The cerebral tactician admitted that he would certainly get a kick out of his World Cup bow, while challenging his charges to produce a performance that everyone can be proud of. “I’d like to enjoy it and celebrate it a bit inwardly, even if I can’t show it on the outside,” the coach told a press conference ahead of the game against Jordan. “It’s up to us to make sure that we have something to smile about after the match.”
Sources: FIFA Official
