ÖFB-Team before "Final" in World Cup Qualifiers against Bosnia "totally optimistic"

ÖFB Supervisory Board Chairman Josef Pröll expressed confidence even before the return flight after Austria's 2:0 victory in Cyprus in the qualification for the FIFA World Cup: "I am totally optimistic that our team can succeed in beating Bosnia." Even a point on Tuesday (8:45 PM) in the sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna is enough for the ÖFB team for their first World Cup participation since 1998. "We won 2:0 against Cyprus, we are very happy about that. Now the highlight follows in Vienna," promised Pröll.

Pröll saw "absolutely no disappointment" in the ÖFB team after missing early qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The ÖFB team watched the first half of the Bosnia vs. Romania game in the locker room of the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol. As they drove to Paphos Airport, Romania was leading 1:0. Upon their arrival at the airport, Bosnia was already leading 2:1. They watched Bosnia's third goal on tablets and smartphones while waiting for the security check. The flight, delayed by two hours, further dampened the mood. Pröll understood that the ÖFB internationals were not in the mood for joking. "You win, Romania takes the lead, it all looks like it will be decided soon, and then not," said the former Vice Chancellor. "But I see absolutely no disappointment among the players. On the contrary, it's already relatively late," Pröll said around midnight.

He himself feels great anticipation before the Tuesday match. "We now have a big final in Vienna, a sold-out stadium, a football festival, and we have it in our own hands. This is a starting position that couldn't be better before such a match," said Pröll. They played a strong qualification, so it would be "absolutely deserved if we secure everything against Bosnia." ÖFB Sports Director Peter Schöttel is also optimistic about the decisive match - also because there are no suspended players and, except for David Alaba, no injured players. "That's why we will see a very, very determined Austrian team on Tuesday. Everyone wants to fulfill a very big dream."

Performance in FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Cyprus gives ÖFB team confidence for their "final" against Bosnia

"It will of course not be easy, but we have told ourselves that Tuesday is our final," explained Arnautovic. The match in Cyprus was considered a "semi-final." "On Tuesday we have the final, and we have focused on that." Austria's record national player made no secret of the fact that they were "keeping an eye" on the Bosnia vs. Romania match. If the Romanians had gained a point in Zenica, the Austrians would have secured the ticket to the World Cup in North America early. Now a duel with Bosnia awaits, which the ÖFB team must not lose. "Of course, there are also worse situations than playing such a decisive game in the Happel Stadium in front of a sold-out house," said midfielder Romano Schmid.

He has never played such a match before. "That's why I'm really looking forward to Tuesday. I believe it will be an exciting game." The respect for Bosnia is great. "This is a very unpleasant team, which is also really aggressive and really goes into tackles," said Schmid. The greatest strength of the team around veteran Edin Dzeko is, however, to bring balls into the penalty area to the two big strikers. "That's their method, and it needs to be defended." The Austrians won the first leg in Zenica in September 2:1.

Arnautovic Hopes for a Crowning Conclusion to World Cup Qualifiers

Arnautovic enters the decisive match with eight goals in six qualifying appearances so far. The 36-year-old described the World Cup as the "absolute maximum," placing the hoped-for participation above his three previous European Championships. Whether they play next summer in Mexico, Canada, or the USA, he doesn't care at all. "I just want to be at the World Cup and have a nice conclusion with the national team, because then I have achieved everything."

The Viennese looked back before his 130th international match. "We were at the bottom with the Austrian national team, we were at the top. Now we are almost at the top and just need to reward ourselves to go to the World Cup. The anticipation is great, but it's not finished yet." The victory in Cyprus was mandatory. "This is not an easy opponent, you don't need to downplay Cyprus," emphasized Arnautovic. "We had to give 100 to 120 percent - and we did. You could really feel the energy. We did it confidently, we did our job."

World Cup Qualifiers: Special Praise for Laimer and Fans After Victory Against Cyprus

In defense, the ÖFB team allowed little to nothing. "We were wide awake, defended everything," said Philipp Lienhart. There was special praise for Konrad Laimer, who also impressed on the left back. "Konni can play everything. The only thing missing is for him to play goalkeeper," joked Arnautovic. "His development is already outstanding, and I hope it gets even better in the coming years." Lienhart described the Bayern Munich man as one of the best full-backs in the world. "He is absolutely valuable for us."

Midway through the second half, Laimer also took command in the midfield center. "He is an incredible player with insane quality," praised goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. The team handled the pressure situation of having to deliver in Cyprus very well. "We have incredibly cool leaders who always lead with ease." Arnautovic is also one of them. Schlager: "We appreciate him incredibly - both on and off the field."

The ÖFB players were also impressed by the support of the 1,700 traveling fans. "It's already a tough trip," said Arnautovic about their long journey. "It just shows the euphoria and unity that is emerging in Austria," said Stefan Posch. "We need to carry this flow into Tuesday and hopefully to the World Cup." Defense colleague Lienhart saw it similarly: "The dream is incredible for everyone. Now we want to take the last step."

(APA/Red)

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