Ralf Rangnick Focuses on World Cup Qualification After Setback in Serbia

The Austrian national football team faced a significant setback in their quest for success this year, failing to achieve their initial goal. Despite the disappointment of a 0:2 defeat against Serbia in the Nations League playoff, head coach Ralf Rangnick remains optimistic about securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup in North America, emphasizing that this objective outweighs their return to League A of the Nations League.

Rangnick stated that the upcoming match on June 7 in Vienna against Romania is crucial for the team's aspirations, highlighting the importance of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. Many players on the current squad were born after Austria's last World Cup appearance in 1998. Rangnick acknowledged that for several players, this might be their last opportunity to participate in a World Cup, expressing his determination to invest every effort into achieving this goal while remaining confident in the team's potential.

In the recent match against Serbia, Rangnick noted that he was missing nine key players from his starting lineup due to injuries and fatigue, including prominent figures like David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic, who were substituted in later. He also mentioned additional injured players like Sasa Kalajdzic, Michael Svoboda, and Andreas Weimann, acknowledging that the absence of these players affected the team's performance. However, he expressed satisfaction with the players who were available for selection.

Austria dominated possession during the match, but struggled to convert this advantage into scoring opportunities. Rangnick pointed out that the team primarily generated threats through regaining possession and quick transitions rather than through sustained offensive pressure. Serbian coach Dragan Stojkovic remarked on the nature of the game, suggesting that controlling the match from a defensive stance can also be effective.

Rangnick, however, countered this perspective, insisting that Serbia did not merely allow Austria to control the game. He highlighted feedback from Serbian players who acknowledged Austria's superiority in certain phases of the match, stressing that the team's ability to dominate and control the play was evident, even though they ultimately failed to secure a win.

Reflecting on previous matches, Rangnick emphasized the missed opportunities that led to the need for playoff games, suggesting that a better performance earlier in the Nations League could have eliminated the risk of needing to qualify for the World Cup under pressure. He conveyed a preference for experiencing a defeat in the Nations League rather than in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Looking ahead, Rangnick's focus remains exclusively on World Cup qualification, and he has not contemplated his future beyond this campaign. He expressed satisfaction that no additional players were injured during the training camp, apart from Phillipp Mwene, who had to exit the match at halftime. Rangnick noted the importance of keeping key players like Alaba fit for continued high-level performance in the future.

Key players Konrad Laimer and Patrick Wimmer demonstrated their significance to the team, with Laimer playing an influential role in the first half as a playmaker. The duo also formed a newly configured offensive wing-back partnership, showcasing their adaptability.

Regarding the team's goalkeeping situation, Rangnick downplayed any concerns, indicating that the competition between Alexander Schlager and Patrick Pentz remains tight. He acknowledged the need for improvement in defensive consistency, as the team has only managed two clean sheets in their last 15 matches. Rangnick assured that with the return of injured players, the team is poised to qualify for the World Cup as group winners.