Austrian injury concerns not worrying coach Rangnick

VIENNA: Austria have injury concerns over captain David Alaba and forward Christoph Baumgartner after Monday’s win over fellow World Cup finalists Tunisia, but coach Ralf Rangnick said he was not overly concerned. Alaba, whose recent career has been littered with injury, went off at halftime in the 1-0 win at the Ernst Happel Stadium.

“We’ll have to take another look at David. He felt a slight tightness in his leg at halftime. That’s why we didn’t take any risks,” Rangnick told reporters after the game.

Baumgartner withdrew from the team for Austria’s last World Cup tune-up after feeling a sharp pain in his groin during the warm-up.

“We still have to wait and see what’s going on with Baumi,” Rangnick said.

“We won’t know the severity of the injury until Tuesday. Hopefully, it’s not too serious. He felt a sharp pain while taking a shot on goal. More likely in his hip flexor,” the coach said.

After the match, goalscorer Marcel Sabitzer told reporters he had spoken to Baumgartner, who said his withdrawal from the starting line-up was merely a precautionary measure.

“He says he thinks it’s not too serious. Baumgartner is very important for our game. We hope everything will be all right. We still have some time,” said Sabitzer. Monday’s win, with Austria down to 10 men for much of the match after an early red card, was the team’s only preparatory game before the World Cup kicks off next week.

Austria play their World Cup Group J opener against Jordan on June 16.–REUTERS

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المصدر: New Straits Times