Foda still has to talk to Arnautovic about his fitness
On Sunday (5.30 p.m. / live ORF 1) in Vienna against Slovakia, Austria's national soccer team will have the last chance to regain confidence before the European Championship. The ÖFB selection has only won one of their last five international matches. The performance in the latest 0-1 defeat on Wednesday in the test in England allows team boss Franco Foda to look positively into the future.
“The team played very ambitiously against England for long stretches. I expect that we will play with just as much energy against Slovakia, but also use our chances,” said Foda. “We have to be even more cohesive in the game against the ball. There were things against England that I liked. But of course there is still room for improvement.”
Exactly one week after the dress rehearsal, the European Championship opening game against North Macedonia will take place in Bucharest on June 13th. The team boss will therefore no longer engage in large-scale experiments. Individual stars such as David Alaba could get a break in view of the tournament. “Maybe I'll change one or the other position again,” said Foda, who referred to the following three European Championship games within a short period of time. “I know that some players have had a lot of stress this season. Accordingly, the playing time has to be divided up a bit.”
The German seems to have largely found his tribe. The goalkeeper question is still open. After Daniel Bachmann made his debut in England, Alexander Schlager, who started the World Cup qualifiers in March, could get another chance against the Slovaks. Foda wants to inform the goalkeepers of his decision for the Slovakia game on Friday or Saturday. It could also be made public on Saturday. The number one for the EM should not be determined until next week.
Although the ÖFB record this year only throws a victory against the Faroe Islands (3: 1), Foda does not want to overestimate the result of the last EM test. “The most important thing is how the team presents itself. We didn't win against England, but there were still many positive insights,” said the 55-year-old. “I don't think the result against Slovakia has any relevance to the game against North Macedonia, but clearly every win is important.”
Foda warned of the Slovaks who were preparing for their second European Championship this week in Windischgarsten. The ailing captain Marek Hamsik doesn't think he is 100 percent yet, so he could start on the bench. The Slovak legionnaires' selection act compactly on the defensive and are strong in the switching game, explained Foda. “You can only play a team like this by keeping up the pace and coming over the wings.”
For the Austrians, Valentino Lazaro, who was absent from England due to the quarantine regulations, comes into question. Karim Onisiwo is also an alternative. In addition, Foda is hoping for at least a short assignment with striker Marko Arnautovic. “He took the next step.”
The China legionnaire, with his thigh injured, is still training individually – but according to Foda, “much more intensely” than in the past few days. The start of team training was planned for Friday evening. “I hope he can play at the weekend. If not, we have three other strikers,” said Foda. The head coach recalled that Arnautovic had come to the team in the autumn without much match practice. The 32-year-old would be ready for the EM even without test game minutes. “It is always a source of unrest that can make a difference.”
The EM dress rehearsal in the spacious Ernst Happel Stadium is allowed to attend 3,000 spectators on Sunday due to the Corona regulations. A few remaining tickets were still available on Friday afternoon. Two days after the game, the ÖFB team will travel together to the EM quarters in Seefeld. Foda wants to discuss what the players are allowed to do in between, despite Corona rules, “in peace” internally. “Maybe there is the possibility that you can visit the family.” But that has not yet been finally clarified.
