Schlager on World Cup: "One of the most difficult periods of my career"

Although he and Nottingham Forest suffered their third consecutive defeat against Arsenal on Sunday - Xaver Schlager has found his stride at his new club.

The ÖFB star now feels completely at home in the English Premier League after leaving Leipzig. Under head coach Oliver Glasner, the midfield engine is an undisputed regular starter.

A few months ago, the St. Valentiner found himself under fire from critics – in an interview with "Kurier," Schlager now spoke about the difficult period during the 2026 World Cup.

World Cup Experience as a "Lesson for Life"

With Austria, the left-footed player reached the Round of 32 at the mega-tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, before a clear defeat against Spain brought their elimination.

The midfield engine became a symbol of an ÖFB team that couldn't realize its full potential in its first tournament participation since 1998. Schlager looks back with mixed feelings: "The lasting image will only become clear in the coming years. On one hand, I'm proud to have played in a World Cup. On the other hand, it was personally one of the most difficult periods of my career."

His personal World Cup experience was a "lesson for life" for him: "When you look forward to the World Cup, imagine it should be a highlight of your career, and then realize you're not performing at your peak, it's frustrating."

"If You're Only at 99 Percent..."

The 29-year-old cites several factors as reasons for his "dip in form."

"The time leading up to it didn't go ideally. I didn't have a hundred percent preparation last year and wasn't at an absolute top level all season. I also believe that the whole topic of the World Cup eventually became too hyped up and too big for me."

Besides performance pressure and sporting factors, the mega-tournament also became a test of endurance in other ways.

"Traveling, time zones, being away from Europe for a month, never being in your own apartment where you can unwind. These are things you shouldn't underestimate, and I hadn't experienced them before. And you have to admit one thing: if you're only at 99 and not 100 percent, that's no longer enough in football today. Then you'll be mercilessly punished."

Changed Mindset and Regained Confidence

Not least during the last training camp of the ÖFB team, Schlager once again showed strong performances. The fact that he is now back in full swing is also based on changed circumstances:

"In recent years, it was always only about injuries, never about my performance. That was there when I was fit. But I constantly heard: 'You have to stay fit.' This year I had a full preparation, with full intensity. And I went into it with a different goal and told myself: 'Make sure you push hard. Make sure you become better than others.' That's a completely different mindset."

He has regained "confidence" in his body.