The winds of change are blowing for Austria’s football team. Following a disappointing Euro 2016, players have been quitting the international scene while head coach Marcel Koller is being questioned as never before. Georg Sander looks ahead to the Dublin showdown.
On 5th November, 2015, little Austria stood 10th in the FIFA rankings. A landslide campaign in the Euro qualifiers with nine wins and just one draw even turned the Alaba-led team into a dark horse for the tournament in France. What has happened since then? Georg Sander of 90minuten gives the view from the Boys in Green’s next opponents.
Both smarting from defeats last Friday and trailing the play-off spot by three points, Austria and Ireland face off in Vienna desperately clinging to hope. Georg Sander of 90minuten.au traces the recent development of Austrian football, claiming the current defence is a weakness, and that former Salzburg coach Trapattoni still holds a fascination for the natives – an allure that has all but disappeared in Ireland.
While Ireland and Sweden lock horns in Dublin, Austria will be in action in Munich. With Germany expected to continue their run-away lead towards the World Cup, the Austrians are already looking to next week’s meeting with the Boys in Green in Vienna and dreaming of Brazil, as Georg Sander of 90minuten.at writes.