DFranco Foda already suspected that the day after bankruptcy would not be a pleasant one. “If you conceded five goals, you didn’t do anything right,” said the German coach of the Austrian national team after a low 2:5 blow in Israel. The Austria-Medians did not accept the fact that the Austrian Football Association (OFB) selection still had a chance at the World Cup in Qatar, despite qualifying humiliations against the hosts, who are overseen by ex-OFB sporting director Willi Rattensteiner. .
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Saturday evening’s experience was nothing new for Foda and his players. European Championship qualification with 2:4 in March 2019 met with similar applause, also in Haifa, against Israel, Andreas Herzog also had a compatriot on the opposing coaching bench – and the performance was also underground.
Comments on Sunday were the same as two and a half years ago: “What a gossip! The Austria national team lost 5-2 in World Cup qualifying in Israel on Saturday,” wrote “Kronen Zeitung”. The “press” called “Austria’s painful incompetence”. It is undeniable that a former Bundesliga professional Foda has been a rarity in his four years to date.
On social media, some ironic Twitterers suspected a high political sentiment behind the team’s presentation around captain David Alaba. One wrote, “In terms of human rights, it is very commendable that the Austrian team is boycotting the World Cup in Qatar.” Another said: “Others are talking about boycotting #Qatar2022. Austria does it unannounced.”
0: 3 after 33 minutes
But it’s not far away yet. Austria’s World Cup is still a little far away. As of now, Austria’s kickers will be in the World Cup playoffs in March 2022 – regardless of the course of other group games. As group winners in the B-League of the Nations League last year, they must play in the playoffs if four of the five teams from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Wales finish first or second in the table from their qualifying groups. .
Five days out of ten days after the qualifying match, the only thing that is clear so far is that first place in Group F is as good as is out of reach for Austria. Denmark is eight points ahead of fourth-placed Austria with 15 points. So it’s about the fight for second place. On the other hand, Israel has an advantage with ten points and Scotland with eight points. In any case, Tuesday’s win against the Scots in Vienna – despite the failures of Marcel Sabitzer, Stefan Lenner, Sasa Kalajadzik, Xaver Schlager and Julian Baumgartlinger.
With a performance like Israel, it will be difficult anyway. After 33 minutes it was 0:3. The connecting gates of Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner (42nd) and former Bremer Marko Arnatovic (55th) were also useless. Shaun Weisman (58th) and Eran Jahavi (90th) scored with their second goals to complete Austria’s bankruptcy.
We can’t score five goals against Israel. A lot was missing,” said goalkeeper Daniel Bachchan in despair. Like his trainer, he sensed the media storm. “If there is something good to write, it comes very, very little and little. And when things don’t go well, people start screaming again.” However, he admitted: Deserved it today after the performance.”
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