“Of course, Franco Foda will also be on the bench on Tuesday,” said ÖFB President Gerhard Milletich on ORF, confirming his team boss in office until the friendly against Scotland in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium. The 55-year-old German’s contract expires two days later after failing to qualify for the 2022 finals in Qatar. Milletich was open to everything, including an extension of the contract: “We have to find a solution, it can be with Foda, it can be without Foda.”
For some long-standing and deserving players in the national team, the big dream of the World Cup has burst again. Marko Arnautovic indicated an end to his team career. “I’ll let everything go through my head to see if everything still fits. I am very grateful to the national team and extremely proud to always be there. I can’t say anything yet, I have to see how it goes,” said the 32-year-old. In any case, the bitter defeat in Wales gives reason to analyze why Austria did not make it to a World Cup again.
“All are silent, heads are down”
At first, of course, the enormous disappointment overlaid the events. While Wales did the atmospheric lap of honor in their cauldron, the ÖFB team players could clearly see the defeat. “I’m lost for words. Everyone is quiet, heads are down – chance missed,” Arnautovic gave an insight into the players’ emotional world. Foda said something similar: “We are all very disappointed, we have set ourselves very, very high goals, and we really wanted to go to the World Cup.”
Arnautovic in an interview
Marko Arnautovic in conversation after Austria’s World Cup dream burst.
On the other hand, the Welsh celebrated in their ‘Fortress’, where they went unbeaten in their twelfth competitive game in a row. At the same place, the World Cup ticket can finally be fixed in June against Scotland or the Ukraine, it would be the first since 1958 for the “dragons”. Their team boss Robert Page was audibly proud of his team: “Austria were tough opponents. So I can’t praise my players highly enough. We absolutely deserved the win.”
Crossbar shot instead of an early lead
Austria could not win the game in Wales, which was not only due to the opponent, but also to the ÖFB team itself. Ultimately, Gareth Bale’s class made the difference in terms of goals, but mistakes in attacking and defensive behavior favored that.
“Wales was a bit better in the little things that make up such cuts,” said Christoph Baumgartner and listed: “We lost the ball too easily and didn’t manage to get behind the chain often enough, like with my chance for example. After a nice relay through the center, Baumgartner missed the early lead, hitting the crossbar alone in front of goalie Wayne Hennessy, also because Necol Williams had rushed up and deflected the ball.
“The game could have gone very differently if I took the first chance. This is extremely bitter. I don’t think I’m doing too much wrong in the situation, maybe I’m waiting the tick too long,” analyzed the Hoffenheim legionnaire and mourned the chance. “Extremely bitter, I could have done us a huge favor with the 1-0 lead, especially by calming down this cauldron.”
Defeat raises questions
So things turned out differently – and that also had something to do with Baumgartner. Before Bale’s world-class free-kick, the 22-year-old learned the hard way when he unnecessarily played Harry Wilson. “I don’t commit a very clever foul, especially when facing someone like Gareth Bale,” said the Lower Austrian, refreshingly self-critical.
Austria were not in the lead, but behind, as Wales once again scored from a set piece – as they did four times in the 5-1 win over Belarus in November. Austria knew of the Welsh threat from set pieces but also conceded their second goal from a corner. But even more questions are raised as to why two of their own corners have led to top chances for Wales.
Foda did not accept criticism in this regard. “Our situations were already thought through, we also discussed that.” The German criticized other things, too slow play forward and play errors. Once again in the Foda era there was a lack of offensive solutions in the last third. Here, too, one must question why this was a common thread running through his era.
Team boss question should be clarified in April
The German, who has been in office since November 2017, could remain so and obviously wants to, as he made clear at the press conference. “I’m proud to be the Austrian national coach, we’ve achieved a lot, but not this goal. It’s a shame because there were opportunities. You should now let everything sink in and discuss things in peace. But I will prepare the team well until my last day and give everything for the country,” said Foda, who won 27 times with his team in 47 games.
Interview with ÖFB President Gerhard Milletich
The head of the association speaks about the future of Franco Foda.
Milletich commented on the team boss question: “In the course of April we want to find a solution that will take us further. The sporting director will have had a few talks.” Peter Schöttel, also in office since 2017, said: “We currently have team boss Franco Foda. Of course, in the next few days, talks will be held with everyone involved, everything will be questioned.” A separation from Foda is more likely than a contract extension.
Wales aren’t just through in the play-off
So while the ÖFB team is analyzing, Wales is one step further. The Brits, who sensationally made it into the EM semi-finals in 2016, delivered against Austria. “We knew how important this game was and that we had to perform. We also had to rely on our experience in big games,” said Bale, who also warned: “It’s only half the job, we still have a difficult game ahead of us. But we will be ready.”
The Welsh are now a collective that is difficult to conquer, in the last 25 competitive games there have only been two defeats. Cardiff have created a home field advantage that both players and fans can identify with. Although Austria has the highest quality of players in the history of the ÖFB, this potential is not fully exploited for various reasons. Under Foda, for example, they once again failed to win a competitive game against a top 20 team, and that’s why they’re not at a World Cup again.
World Cup qualification, play-off, semi-finals
Thursday:
Wales 2-1 Austria (1-0)
Cardiff City Stadium, 32,053 spectators, SR Marciniak (POL)
goal sequence:
1:0 Bale (25./Freistoß)
2:0 Bale (51.)
2:1 Sabitzer (64.)
Wales: Hennessey – Ampadu, Rodon, B. Davies – Allen – C. Roberts, Ramsey, Wilson, N. Williams – Bale (93./Mepham), James (88./Johnson)
Austria: Lindner – Lainer (88th / Gregoritsch), Dragovic, Hinteregger, Alaba – X. Schlager (77th / Lazaro), N. Seiwald – Laimer (55th / Kalajdzic), Sabitzer, Baumgartner (77th / Weimann) – Arnautovic
Yellow cards: Wilson or Baumgartner, Lainer