“It’s clear that we would like to extend the series,” said Rangnick. But the ÖFB record is not important to anyone. “If we do, it would be another point that would further boost the team’s confidence. Even if we win the game, things really get going on the 17th against France. We know what kind of performance we need to prevail against France.”
While the Swiss are expected to be at full strength, Rangnick says he will not field the eleven that will start against the French in the dress rehearsal. Marcel Sabitzer, who is set to be captain, will not be called up yet. “We are well-rehearsed, so we agree that it would be an unnecessary risk to use him,” explained Rangnick.
GEPA/Manuel Binder Marcel Sabitzer and Marko Arnautovic will not play on Saturday
Gregoritsch, Mwene and Lienhart set for starting eleven
They want to win the game, but also give the players a rhythm. Despite his cut above his eye, Philipp Lienhart will start in central defence – according to Rangnick, probably with a “turban protection”. In addition, left-back Phillipp Mwene is likely to move into the team compared to the 2-1 win against Serbia in Vienna on Tuesday, and the current number one striker Michael Gregoritsch will start in place of the not fully fit Marko Arnautovic. Arnautovic did not complete the final training session on Friday in Vienna with the team, nor did Sabitzer.
Heinz Lindner will be in goal at the 17,000-seat Kybunpark. For the 33-year-old, who is still under contract with Swiss newcomers FC Sion, this will be his first international match in more than 14 months after recovering from testicular cancer. For the Swiss, Dortmund’s regular goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is probably only number two behind Inter Milan veteran Yann Sommer.
GEPA/Johannes Friedl Lindner guards the national team’s goal against Switzerland for the 37th time
If it’s up to Rangnick, the Swiss back line should be kept busy. “I hope the spectators have a great game, where it’s also important what you do with the ball. We still have room for improvement,” said the 65-year-old, referring to the Serbia test, when the ÖFB team lost some of the flow of the game after 30 minutes, not least because of the tough approach of both sides.
Football friendly
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Switzerland Austria
St.Gallen, Kybunpark, SR Maria Caputi (ITA)
Switzerland: Sommer – Akanji, Schär, Elvedi – Widmer, Xhaka, Freuler, Ndoye – Shaqiri, Amdouni, Vargas
Austria: Lindner – Daniliuc, Lienhart, Trauner, Mwene – Seiwald, Grillitsch – Laimer, Baumgartner, Kainz – Gregoritsch
Team boss hopes for a calmer game
“I hope that it will be a little less physical than it was against Serbia. That was a real tough test,” said Rangnick. “I hope that it won’t be less competitive, but with fewer interruptions.” The match against the Serbs was “no longer nice to watch” from the 30th minute onwards.
Switzerland team manager Murat Yakin praised the progress that Austria has made recently. Under Rangnick, the ÖFB selection has “stepped up a gear,” said the 49-year-old. He greatly appreciates Rangnick and his work. “He sees football vertically. They play a dangerous, fast transition game.” The Swiss want to hold their own even without the injured Breel Embolo and Denis Zakaria. Since the turn of the year, they have not conceded a goal in three international matches. “We are well organized this year and have a good balance,” said Yakin.
Seventh victory would set a record
The ÖFB team has only celebrated seven victories in a row twice in the association’s history – before the 1934 World Cup semi-final against Italy (0:1), which was lost under dubious circumstances under “Wunderteam” coach Hugo Meisl, and most recently in 2017 and 2018 during the transition from team boss Marcel Koller to Franco Foda.
In dress rehearsals before major events, the Austrians have a proud record: in the last games before the ten European Championship or World Cup appearances to date, they have won seven games. However, the Austrians have not had any success in the last two European Championship finals. In 2016, the dress rehearsal in Vienna ended in a 0-2 defeat against the Netherlands, and in 2021, a 0-0 draw against Slovakia.
