The Austrian national team fears becoming the latest European side to stumble against Asian opponents in the 2026 World Cup, according to coach Ralf Rangnick.
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Speaking on Tuesday during a press conference at the San Francisco Bay Area stadium ahead of the match between the Jordanian national football team and Austria, Rangnick said he is wary of his team becoming the next European casualty against an AFC side in the World Cup if his players do not perform at their absolute best against Jordan.
"We have seen many surprises during this edition of the World Cup," Rangnick added.
He continued: "If you look at the matches and their results, you will find that we have seen 12 draws compared to just 6 wins, and no South American team has managed to secure a victory."
He also noted: "This match will not be easy or a given. We will face an annoying and difficult opponent. They will try to draw us forward, absorb the pressure, and then exploit open spaces to execute their counter-attacks."
"This is the style we expect them to play against us tomorrow," he pointed out.
Austria suffered a blow before the tournament kicked off with a thigh injury to midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, a player who embodies the team’s high-pressing and high-intensity style of play.
While Rangnick did not reveal his starting lineup for the match, he confirmed that he had settled on the eleven players who will face Jordan since last week, noting that all squad members are in good health.
With the match kicking off in the evening amid moderate weather conditions in the San Francisco Bay Area, there might not be much need for cooling breaks during the halves. However, Rangnick expressed his support for these breaks.
"For me as a coach, it's a positive thing because it gives me a chance to talk to the players and give them some instructions," the German manager said.
He added: "I think around 65,000 spectators will be present in the stadium tomorrow, and it will be very loud, so I won't be able to convey instructions to the players or talk to them during play."
He concluded by saying: "Therefore, these breaks will be an advantage, as they give the team an opportunity to regroup and organize their ranks."
Reuters
