Coach Ralf Rangnick whizzes over the square on an oversized e-bike, while his team has been dreaming of the first World Cup participation in 28 years.
While the Austrian players trotted comfortably on the lawn, Ralf Rangnick rolled past them with a relaxed facial expression towards the coaching bench. The 67-year-old appearance and a little funny appearance on his black e-bike had a serious background. After an ankle surgery, Rangnick is not yet good on foot. “Otherwise the path would have been a bit far,” he joked in the “ORF”.
Rangnick therefore covered all the routes in the interior of the stadium in Zenica with the e-bike, but his players did not need help. After the 2: 1 (0: 0) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, they are clearly on the World Cup course. Therefore, Rangnick’s appearance was the number one topic of conversation. Offensive player Christoph Baumgartner from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig found the sight “a bit bizarre and extraordinary”.
They did not let themselves be distracted. Austria celebrated the fourth victory in the fourth qualification game. The Dortmund Marcel Sabitzer (49th) and the Munich Konrad Laimer (65th) scored the goals, for Bosnia, old star Edin Dzeko (50th). “What matters is the victory. It was a big step to the World Cup,” said the satisfied ranknick. Because the goal is clear: the ÖFB team wants to go back to a world championship for the first time in 28 years.
The qualification is also of great importance for the coach. There have been voices again and again in the past few days, among other things by the ÖFB supervisory board chief Josef Pröll, the Rangnick’s future in the national team connected directly to the World Cup ticket. Rangnick himself also clearly commented: “The performance principle is above everything. If we had not qualified for the European Championship, I would no longer sit here. The same applies to the World Cup.
After four games, Austria is tied with Bosnia-Herzegovina in second place in group H, but the Bosnians have already completed one more game. The group winner drives directly to the final round 2026, the second receives a second chance via the play-offs.
Austria has the best cards. A “change of Ralfen” is not imminent at first.