Football World Cup 2026: Praise from Rangnick for the Austrian National Team after Successful Qualification

"I have worked with many teams that also had good cohesion. But how this group behaves is on a whole different level," said ÖFB head coach Ralf Rangnick on Tuesday after the 1:1 draw at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which marked the first participation of an ÖFB selection in a FIFA World Cup in 28 years.

ÖFB Head Coach Rangnick "Simply Happy and Delighted for the Team" After World Cup Qualification

The jubilation in the stadium catacombs after the final whistle and the joint celebration with the fans was boundless. "When you see what's going on in the locker room, you can gauge how happy the guys are," explained Rangnick. In his personal success ranking as a coach, the 67-year-old placed the ticket to North America "very high up." "It feels like all the promotions and the cup victory with Schalke. I have noticed how much people identify with this team. That's why I'm happy for every Austrian that we made it."

Rangnick has been living in Salzburg for a long time and, according to his own statements, feels "almost like half an Austrian. I even sang along a bit with the final chord of the anthem today," the coach recounted. "It's fun working with this group, and I just feel comfortable here."

In recent days, the head coach had not always been able to hide his tension, and after the successful qualification, a great burden was obviously lifted. "I felt more energetic overall yesterday than today. Today I'm exhausted because it has been tiring days," admitted Rangnick. Now he is "simply happy and delighted for the team and the entire staff that we have rewarded ourselves for the outstanding work."

Rangnick was particularly pleased for veterans like Marko Arnautovic (36 years) and David Alaba (33). "It means everything to them. For this generation, it was clear it was their last chance." Additionally, the national coach highlighted his special connection to Alaba. "He is the greatest and most successful player Austria has ever had."

World Cup Qualification: David Alaba Almost Substituted Against Bosnia

The Real Madrid professional had not participated in any sessions during this training camp, except for parts of the final training before the Bosnia match, due to injury problems. "But maybe I would have substituted him against Bosnia if it had still been 0:1 five minutes before the end," reported Rangnick.

The redemption by Michael Gregoritsch came as early as the 77th minute, with Austria already celebrating the 1:1 before the break - but only briefly, because the Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro disallowed Konrad Laimer's goal after VAR intervention. "Since VAR has existed, I've stopped celebrating immediately. For the goal that counted, I probably celebrated the least, as someone could have intervened there too," said Rangnick.

At the latest after the disallowance of Laimer's goal, the game developed into a test of patience and a nail-biter. "It was difficult, partly due to the chronology," said the ÖFB coach. "We started well and had two really good chances in the first ten minutes. Then we conceded the 0:1 from an unnecessary corner, and after that, the game was tailor-made for the Bosnians. They defended with all their might, and it was difficult for us to create chances. I'm glad we stuck with it and forced the draw in the end."

ÖFB Head Coach Rangnick Satisfied with Confident Final Phase

That they were no longer really in distress after the equalizer and did not concede a late goal like in the 0:1 against Romania filled Rangnick with great satisfaction. "How cleverly we managed the result over time, I have to say, we have learned. I would have wished for it at the end in Bucharest, then we wouldn't have had to be so nervous today."

Now the nerves are over, and Austria is traveling to a World Cup for the first time since 1998 - where, unlike back then, the knockout phase is to be reached. "If we are complete, I believe we have a good chance of advancing in the group," explained Rangnick. The group opponents will be determined at the draw on December 5 in Washington - who they will face in North America is "pretty much irrelevant" to Rangnick, according to his own statement. He would only like to avoid Germany, the national coach admitted.

At the World Cup, special lucky charms will probably be used again, which Rangnick had made for the A-team members. These are pendants with a small plaque in red-white-red and a small World Cup trophy, on whose base the respective initials and fingerprints of the players were engraved. "Getting the fingerprints from the players was the most difficult task. We had to explain to them that they weren't going into the criminal record," joked Rangnick. He kept his own talisman in his left trouser pocket during the match. "Thank God it fulfilled its task."

All News on the 2026 Football World Cup

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.