The press conference was postponed three times in order to be able to react to the current changes regarding the classification of coronavirus mutation regions. According to the OFB, the reduction was not yet possible as the new classification expected by the German Robert Koch Institute was not yet available by noon. “We will have to wait until Sunday evening,” said OFB managing director Bernhard Neuhold. The FB team now has to do without the giants of Germany in Scotland.
According to Newhold, there is still hope that Great Britain could be removed from the list of high-risk areas by the Robert Koch Institute on Friday. In this case, the trip to Scotland would not result in a 14-day quarantine for Germany’s professionals, and clubs would be bound to close.
FB team will continue to play on time in Kadar
FB team boss Franco Foda commented on his 43-man squad for World Cup qualifying starting next week on Friday. The virtual press conference, which was postponed several times as a result of the squad not slacking off, is playing for FB time and hopes to be able to travel to Scotland with the Germany giants.
Austria begins Mission World Cup qualification against Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow on 25 March, followed by two home games against the Faroe Islands (28 March) and Denmark (31 March, all games at 8.45 pm and live on ORF 1) . Ernst Happel Stadium.
France legend Adrian Grubic (Lorient) was not cleared for Thursday’s game in Glasgow, while Freiburg’s Philippe Leonhardt is allowed to play in the first home game against the Faroe Islands (March 28) in Vienna due to local rules . The deployment of China veteran Marko Arnatovic was not an issue anyway because of Chinese coronavirus travel restrictions. For now, Foda plans to move to Scotland with 23 players. They should come together on Monday, the rest will train in Vienna from Wednesday.
For health reasons, the use of Hoffenheim’s Stefan Pausch following his coronavirus infection, Mainz attacker Karim Onisivo and Frankfurt’s Martin Hintergeger are suspects for all three games. In the latter case, Foda spoke of a “training setback” following his thigh injury.
With 23 players in Scotland
“We are all in a very difficult situation, hence the need for extraordinary measures. The squad announcement was a little more complicated than usual. We are prepared for all the scenarios and will now wait and see what’s new. There are daily changes. We have to improve at short notice and always look for new solutions,” Foda said on Friday.
The team boss (“I’m no longer bothered by something I can’t change”) specified his preparation plan. “There are plans for 23 players to fly to Scotland. The rest of the squad will stay in Vienna and meet on Wednesday. On Friday after the game, I will announce the squad for the next matches.”
goalkeeper squad theme
After Foda named his historic squad on Tuesday, the non-nomination of Salzburg goalkeeper Sikan Stankovic caused a surprise. For his club trainer Jesse Marsh, the decision was “incomprehensible”. “Everyone can express their opinion. Herr Marsh did so. We have ten goalkeepers in our pool and Sikan, like everyone else, has the opportunity to be in the European Championship, ”said Foda. Patrick Pentz (Austria), Dejan Stojanovic (Saint Pauli) and Martin Frasel (The Hague) will also belong to this pool.
Autumn’s plans to set number one in March seem to have been shelved. “Due to the new situation, I will think about doing that,” said Foda, who was responsible for international triple Daniels Bachmann (Watford), Pavao Pervan (Wolfsburg), Heinz Lindner (Basel), Alexander Schlager (LASK). Jörg Siebenhandl (Sturm Graz) was nominated.
“There are five goalkeepers as three will fly to Glasgow. Two have stayed in Vienna for training. The nomination was made after consultation with Robert Almer (goalkeeper trainer, note). He looked at all the candidates and we made a decision,” Foda said. In addition to Stankovic, Rapids’ Richard Straubinger is also listed on demand.
Kara “Dangerous”, Demir “Very Talented”
First time rapid players Yusuf Demir and Erkan Kara are involved. “Cara is a very positive influence, I don’t know him personally, but I have seen a lot of games. He is a player who is very strong, can catch balls well and is very dangerous in the box,” Foda said. “Demir is a young, very talented player. She is not a regular in Rapid, but I see a lot of potential in her. When he comes in, he can give a new impetus to the game. Now we want to see it live.”
Arnautovic was not called because the Viennese will be awaiting a 14-day quarantine in China after being in Austria. Arnautovic had assured the coach a few days earlier that there should be no problem for EM.
“Everyone Can Show Himself”
Despite the uncertain circumstances, the plan for Foda remains unchanged. “Our goal is to qualify for the World Cup. So far we have always achieved our goals. Goals are important in making dreams come true. Whatever the team, we want to win in Scotland. Can we compete without the giants? It’s a great opportunity for everyone to show themselves. You have to sniff this opportunity to qualify for EM.”
Provisional FB squad for World Cup qualification
Tor: Daniel Bachmann (Watford/England), Pavao Pervan (Wolfsburg/GER), Heinz Lindner (Basel/SUI), Alexander Schlager (LASK), Jörg Siebenhandl (Sturm Graz)
Defense: David Alaba (Bayern Munich/GER), Alexander Dragovic (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Marko Friedl (Werder Bremen/GER), Martin Hinteregger (Eintracht Frankfurt), Stefan Lanner (Monchengladbach/GER), Philipp Leonhardt (Freiburg/GER), David Nemeth (Sturm Graz), Stefan Posch (Hoffenheim/GER), Gernot Trauner (LASK), Christopher Trimmel (Union Berlin/GER), Andreas Ulmer (Salzburg), Maximilian Ullmann (Rapid), Albert Walsey (Salzburg), Philipp Wessinger (LASK), Maximilian Wober (Salzburg)
Midfield: Hussein Bialik (LASK), Christoph Baumgartner (Hoffenheim/GER), Joseph Demir (RAPID), Thomas Goisinger (LASK), Florian Gryllitz (Hoffenheim/GER), Stefan Hierlander (Sturm Graz), Raphael Holzhauser (Birschöt/BEL), Stefan Illsanker (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Jakob Gentscher (Sturm Graz), Valentino Lazaro (Mönchengladbach/GER), Dejan Ljubicic (Rapid), Karim Onisivo (Mainz 05/GER), Reinhold Rheinftal (LASK), Marcel Sabitzer (Leipzig/GER) ) ), Louis Schaub (Luzern/SUI), Xaver Schlager (Wolfsberg/GER), Alessandro Schöf (Schalke/GER), Stefan Schwab (PAOK Saloniki/GRE), Peter Zulz (Goztepe Izmir/TUR)
attack: Adrian Grubic (Lorient/FRA), Michael Gregorish (Augsburg/GER), Sasa Kalajadzik (Stuttgart/GER), Erkan Kara (Rapid)
On demand: Sikan Stankovic (Salzburg), Richard Straubinger (Rapid) – Emanuel Aivu (Admira), Dominic Baumgartner (WAC), Kevin Danso (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER), Maximilian Hoffmann (Rapid), Ivan Ljubic (Sturm Graz), Peter Michoral (LASK) ) ), Manuel Prietl (Arminia Bielefeld / GER), Thorsten Schick (SK Rapid), Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen / GER), Kevin Stoger (Mainz / GER), Hans Wolf (Monchengladbach / GER), Marco Grul (Reid), Christoph Mönchin (Austria)