They started their Euro 2024 campaign as the least talked about team in Germany, but by the time the knockouts came, everybody feared Austria.
Ralf Rangnick’s side landed in the Group D alongside 2022 World Cup finalists France and a Netherlands team tipped widely, with the Euro 2024 betting odds here at SBOTOP backing the Oranje as potential winners (and they are in the semi-finals). And then there was Poland, the team of one of the most dangerous strikers in world football, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.
The un-fancied Austrians finished top of the group and emerged as the most admired nation at the group stage, and nobody wanted to meet them in the knockouts. They started the campaign with a narrow loss to France, before Das Team recovered to sweep Poland aside 3-1, and then they beat the Netherlands in a five goal thriller.
The win over the Oranje was Austria’s first in over three decades and it meant they had reached the knockout phase of the European Championships for the second time in their history, following on from a similar success in 2020. Topping the group meant Austria met Turkey in the Round of 16 and this time they were favourites for a change. But Turkey too have enjoyed a terrific tournament, playing without fear and no little flair and they edged one of the matches of the tournament 2-1.
With the clock ticking away Turkey keeper Mert Gunok made an incredible reaction save to keep out an effort from Christoph Baumgartner to deny Das Team extra time…so it could have been oh so different, as the prize for the winners was another meeting with the Netherlands.
Revival under Rangnick
Austria appointed Ralf Rangnick in 2022 at a time the team was in the doldrums, and the turnaround in fortunes can be credited to his tactical nous, man management skills and high pressing strategy. Austria were dynamic in the press and creative in the turnaround and their high energy approach won them many fans in Germany. The formation was fluid and Rangnick’s players knew their roles as each game evolved.
It did take time for Rangnick’s ideas to bed in as Das Team was relegated to Nations League Group B soon after his arrival, but they came into the Euros on a run of six wins and a draw and on a wave of confidence. They lost just one game in qualifying for the 2024 showcase and were so close to taking a route deep into the competition.
As well as lifting Austrian standards and expectations this was also a redemption for the manager often credited with the development of gegenpressing, and greatly admired by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann. His stock fell a little after an ill-fated stint as manager of Manchester United; but nobody has succeeded at Old Trafford since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson over a decade ago.
Rangnick is back and Austria are ready to continue riding high on his shoulders.
Austria’s world class players
While the sum of Das Team’s parts exceeded the individuals, there are a handful of players who match the commitment and energy of their team-mates, but they also have that added bit of star quality. The team is captained by Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and he led from the front with some inspirational performances, scoring a late stunner to win the group tie against the Netherlands and, with 18 goals in 82 internationals he is one of Austria’s most potent attacking threats.
Sabitzer made his name at Red Bull Leipzig, where another of Austria’s brightest stars is learning his craft. 24 year old Christoph Baumgartner was so close to keeping Das Team’s European dream alive, and he too has a strong goal to game ratio, with 16 goals from 42 games. He impressed at TSG Hoffenheim and now Baumgartner is a key player for Bundesliga heavyweights Leipzig and the resurgent Austria.
There’s a strong Red Bull theme to this Austria team. Rangnick himself spent five successful years as manager there, and another player who made his fair share of Euro 2024 highlights is Bayern Munich’s right wingback Konrad Laimer, who switched to Bavaria last summer after six successful seasons with Die Roten Bullen. Quick in thought and movement Laimer, is the epitome of Austria’s high-octane approach and he is one of the first names on Rangnick’s team sheet.
VfL Wolfsburg’s 23 year old flying winger Patrick Wimmer caught the eye in Germany too. He played in all three of the group games at Euro 2024 and ‘Wimmsi’ ‘as he is known in the dressing room’ is a real spark of creativity, unafraid of making mistakes and often acting on instinct. He is something of a wild card at this early stage of his career, not afraid to put himself about and get in the mix and, as he matures Wimmer can be a real star for club and country.
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