Back in the ÖFB team

Lainer: “I want to leave my heart on the pitch”

Stefan Lainer is currently on a training camp with the national team in Marbella.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Stefan Lainer can laugh again. The Borussia Mönchengladbach right-back is enjoying being back in the Austrian national soccer team nine months after being diagnosed with lymph node cancer. The 31-year-old from Salzburg believes he is ready to take part in the European Championship, his second since 2021, if he is needed. "Regardless of the illness, I'm at a very good level fitness-wise," explained Lainer on Tuesday at the ÖFB team camp in Marbella.

He is currently looking forward to every training session and every card game with his colleagues. "You just appreciate it in a completely different way. It's a dream come true to be back - and also a confirmation." Lainer has not been nominated for the ÖFB team for a year and a half now. He played his 38th and so far last international match in September 2022 against Croatia (1-3). Even before he was diagnosed with cancer in July 2023, the sporting situation was not easy.

"Fire free"
The moments in the national team are something very special. "I want to leave my heart on the pitch for Austria," emphasized Lainer. "I feel good, that's why I'm on fire." He is confident of a place in the European Championship squad. The test matches on Saturday in Slovakia and on Tuesday in Vienna against Turkey are not insignificant. "If I get minutes, I'll try to give it my all. But I've always done well not to think too far ahead, but to take it step by step."

"The first few days were difficult"
This also applied to the battle against cancer, which he won in less than four months. "It was a huge blow," the family man recalled of the unexpected diagnosis. "The first few days were difficult." After a few days, he had a consultation with his doctor, who had since become his consultant, followed by initial tests and a precise treatment plan. "I have a great doctor who made a precise plan of how everything should proceed. That was really convincing. That helped me as a person and I followed it. That's how I got through the difficult time."

The doctor told him that he would get well again. "Fortunately, that worked very well." The drug treatment had an effect. "I quickly looked ahead," explained Lainer. He received support in particular from his family, his closest confidants and friends. The good support from his club also played a role. "Training in parallel was very important, also to get my body going. I then made progress relatively quickly and reconnected with my colleagues." Training instead of hospital - an important balm for the soul.

"A EURO is something else again"
Lainer was also a keen participant at the kick-off in Marbella. "Stevie" has always been a mentality player. His experience on and off the pitch could also help the ÖFB team heading into the European Championship. "It's also important to have certain players with you who are already experienced and can assess a situation," said the former Salzburg player. For example, if the last preparation game (June 8 in Switzerland) goes wrong. "You can't let that get you down. A EURO is something else again."

David Alaba (left) and Marko Arnautovic are missing from the ÖFB team.

(Bild: GEPA )

He tries to get involved in all these things. He sees the hierarchy in the national team as comparatively flat. Despite the absence of captain David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic, there is currently a pleasant atmosphere. "But it's very good for the team when those two are there, because they're kind of the driving force." Between now and June, it is particularly important to prepare for a possible absence of Alaba at the European Championships. Lainer: "It's normal that someone will be missing from time to time. But it's important that the framework is in place by then."

Lainer scored against North Macedonia in 2021.

(Bild: AFP)

The right-back position has mostly been occupied by Stefan Posch or Phillipp Mwene recently, and Nicolas Seiwald has also had to help out there. Lainer could get his chance. He is also one of the few Austrians to have already scored a European Championship goal - the opening goal in the first European Championship victory in ÖFB history in 2021 against North Macedonia (3:1). The draw for the tournament in Germany with group opponents France and the Netherlands is not an easy one. "But I'm confident that we can surprise there," said Lainer. "We know what we can do. We can be really unpleasant."