Before Austria-France on Monday (9 p.m.), Marcel Sabitzer spoke in the columns of Le Parisien about the strengths of his selection, which dreams of a good run during this Euro 2024.
They arrive in Germany without their captain David Alaba, victim of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. But also without their goalkeeper Alexander Schlager and without their midfielder Xaver Schlager, who also suffered serious knee injuries in recent weeks. So many annoyances which have not damaged the capital confidence of the Austrians. Brilliant in the qualifying phase, with 18 points taken out of 24 possible, and a second place clinched just behind Belgium, Ralf Rangnick’s men can have great ambitions for this Euro 2024.
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“We enter the competition united”
Opposed to the French team on Monday in Düsseldorf (9 p.m.), they have no complexes, as their playing master Marcel Sabitzer confirmed in the columns of Le Parisien this Sunday. “Can Austria be one of the surprises of this Euro? Yes, I agree! But we have a very difficult group. France is favorite for the title, the Netherlands are always a tough opponent and Poland has the individual qualities that we know. I hope that we can go far in the competition, but we are aware that it will be very hard,” explains the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
During the last Euro 2021, Austria was only stopped in overtime by the future winners Italy, in the round of 16. In addition to this experience, Konrad Laimer’s teammates took another step forward with the arrival of Rangnick, in April 2022, who imposed high pressure and perpetual risk-taking. “We have started a process for several years, a whole new staff arrived in 2022. Their philosophy suits our players very well. We have individual qualities but we enter the competition united, as a team. which is our strength”, supports Sabitzer, who is especially wary of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé on the French side.
The first and second in each group will qualify for the round of 16 of the Euro, as well as the four best third-placed teams.
