Is the squad truly that deep?
The ÖFB team's squad depth is better than ever before. This was the unanimous opinion ahead of the World Cup. The bitter realization after the tournament: This might be true when it comes to qualifying at a continental level. But if key players are missing at a finals tournament, it becomes qualitatively difficult at the highest level.
Christoph Baumgartner was a missing player who, as a type of player, cannot be replaced one-to-one. However, it's precisely the complete package he brings that the ÖFB team so desperately needs: a pressing initiator in defensive play, dynamism, and goal threat in attacking play. Ralf Rangnick tried several solutions (Konrad Laimer, Paul Wanner, Romano Schmid) – but none truly worked out.
The great dilemma: Laimer would be ideal as a pressing player in this position, but if the opponent fields world-class players on the offensive wing, the national coach evidently doesn't trust any of his left-backs to handle this task, so Laimer had to be deployed as a full-back.
Furthermore, there is currently no striker in the ÖFB environment who can trouble opposing defenses with speed and dynamism. Other positions, however – central defense, wide attacking midfielders – are also well-covered with top-class players in depth.
Is this playing style still suitable?
Overwhelming opponents with aggressive pressing, executing transitional moments clinically – with this formula, the ÖFB team caused a stir up to and including EURO 2024, posing insurmountable challenges even for renowned opponents. However, little of that has been seen recently.
"We didn't bring our top game to the pitch in the group stage, which is what makes us truly strong," says Nicolas Seiwald. Somewhere, the courage was lacking; somehow, this pressing swarm, which only works collectively when everyone performs, never truly clicked.
It's an extremely intense, strenuous style of play that makes the ÖFB strong, or would make them strong. Those players who have been practicing it for years are getting older and are quicker to feel the effects of the high tempo. And it feels like fewer and fewer players are coming through who truly embody this Red Bull DNA.
The coaching staff cannot be blamed for not having worked on possession phases and other offensive solutions for a long time. However, to some extent, the quality is lacking, game-changers who can regularly win one-on-one situations are missing, and genuine goal-getters are absent.
And that's precisely why the pressing approach was fundamentally the right one to bring a football-gifted, but overall certainly not highly-gifted, team to this level. But times change. A dilemma.
How far away are the big teams?
The very big teams are far away, as can be seen after the matches against Argentina and Spain. These were, after all, the reigning world champions and the reigning European champions. "A league too high," is how Michael Gregoritsch describes these two teams.
There are only two or three other teams of this quality. Yet the ÖFB team has been closer to causing sensations than it is these days. Gregoritsch: "It hurts to be so far behind opponents like Argentina and Spain that in the end, you have to admit you had no chance."
The striker also has a good explanation: "We lack experience against such opponents. We're missing the Nations League matches against these teams, where one could gain this routine. We don't have those, and that's our own fault."
Is a generational change needed?
"Whether we need a generational change, I don't know," says Rangnick.
The fact is: By the time the World Cup final whistle blows, one third of the Austrian squad will be over 30 years old. Marko Arnautovic is ending his ÖFB career, while David Alaba is currently leaving his future open. Only Carney Chukwuemeka and Paul Wanner are younger than 25.
In some positions, the rejuvenation has, to some extent, already begun. In goal, Florian Wiegele is waiting in the wings; in central defense, David Affengruber and Michael Svoboda. In other positions, however, things look tighter. Especially in attack.
Rangnick openly admits that he currently sees no alternatives far and wide for Michael Gregoritsch and Sasa Kalajdzic. "Unless someone with Austrian ancestors whom we don't yet know emerges somewhere in another country, we will still be playing with the players we have now in two years' time. I watch a lot of games in Austria, including those of the U17, U19, U21 – I don't see anyone there who could step into their shoes in the next two years," were the national coach's clear words.
Do we simply expect too much?
Is more even possible for a nation like Austria – with its size, population, sports culture, and sports infrastructure? Or does the public simply expect too much from its national team?
That things have been improving over a longer period cannot be denied, considering three consecutive European Championship appearances and the first World Cup participation in 28 years. However, it must not be overlooked that the expansion of these tournaments also plays a role.
In the last three tournaments, the group stage was overcome each time, but the first knockout match marked the end of the road. However, once it was against eventual European champions Italy, and this time against reigning European champions Spain.
"We want and need to take the next step," says Konrad Laimer. Rangnick defines the objective differently: "The goal must be to regularly participate in European and World Championships." However, given recent developments, this should be the minimum goal, because otherwise, we would be talking about stagnation.
