Austria announce squad for October international break

Austria will face Belgium and Azerbaijan

David Alaba, a defensive star for Real Madrid, was added to the Austria team to take on Belgium and Azerbaijan.

Alaba has had trouble returning to full health since the beginning of 2023, missing Los Blancos' last six games while out for a month with a hamstring injury.

Seven FIFA World Cups have seen Austria qualify, with the latest in 1998. In 2008, when it collaborated in the competition with Switzerland, the nation participated in the UEFA European Championship for its inaugural time. It subsequently competed in 2020.

Austria have participated in the last two Euros, making it to the knockout round for the first time in 2020, when they were barely beaten by eventual champion Italy in the round of 16.

Austria could be a team to watch at the championships in adjacent Germany with a talented group that includes players like David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, and Marko Arnautovic.

After failing to turn around Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick made his debut in international leadership in the summer of 2022, taking over for fellow German Franco Foda as the manager of Austria.

Austria had four victories and a draw from their first five qualifiers under the direction of the former RB Leipzig director of football and manager, bringing them within their grasp of securing a spot at Euro 2024.

Austria squad for October international break

Goalkeeper: Niklas Hedl (Rapid Vienna), Alexander Schlager (Red Bull Salzburg), Patrick Pentz (Bayer Leverkusen)

Defender: Max Wober (Borussia Monchengladbach on loan from Leeds United), Kevin Danso (Lens) Stefan Posch (Bologna), David Alaba (Real Madrid), Philipp Lienhart (Freiburg), Flavius Daniliuc (Salernitana), Gernot Trauner (Feyenoord)

Midfielders: Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Grillitsch (Hoffenheim), Dejan Ljubicic (Koln), Florian Kainz (Koln), Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), Kondrad Laimer (Bayern Munich), Patrick Wimmer (Wolfsburg) Matthias Seidl (Rapid Vienna), Alexander Prass ((Sturm Graz)

Forwards: Michael Gregoritsch (Freiburg), Muhammed Cham (Clermont Foot), Marco Grull (Rapid Vienna), Saša Kalajdžić (SR Donaufeld Wien), Manprit Sarkaria (Sturm Graz).