Austria's team

Now it’s clear: this is Austria’s EURO squad

ÖFB team manager Ralf Rangnick has decided ...

(Bild: Urbantschitsch Mario)

Now it's clear: ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick has made his decision and announced his final squad for the European Championship: Thierno Ballo, Tobias Lawal and Stefan Lainer did not make it onto the EURO bandwagon! Just a few days before the kick-off, they were dropped from the red-white-red squad.

Today (by 11.59 pm) Rangnick has to announce to UEFA the 26 men with whom Austria will play the tournament. As Rangnick had recently called up 29 players for the training course, the dream of participating in the European Championship was shattered for three professionals: WAC attacker Thierno Ballo, LASK goalie Tobias Lawal and Gladbach defender Stefan Lainer are not taking part.

Tobias Lawal

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

26-man squad includes 23 outfield players and three goalkeepers
It had also been announced a few hours earlier that goalkeeper Alexander Schlager had not yet recovered from his knee injury and would have to miss the final round in Germany. The final 26-man squad comprises 23 outfield players - including the fit Gernot Trauner - and three goalkeepers.

Thierno Ballo

(Bild: S K R A P I D W I E N)

Mönchengladbach right-back Lainer, who only recovered from cancer a few months ago, was a permanent fixture in the starting line-up at the European Championship three years ago. Last July, the Salzburg player was diagnosed with early-stage lymph node cancer - the treatment went well, Lainer returned to team training the following November and made his ÖFB comeback in March this year in the 2-0 win in Slovakia. Now the Germany international failed to make the cut, as did goalkeeper Lawal. Niklas Hedl (Rapid), Heinz Lindner (Sion) and Patrick Pentz (Brøndby) were preferred to the LASK goalkeeper, who celebrates his 24th birthday this Friday. The latter is considered the most promising contender for the one-man shirt.

Stefan Lainer

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

WAC attacker Ballo 's nomination for the big squad was a surprise in itself. In the end, it was not enough for the European Championship ticket. The 22-year-old, who like Lawal has not yet played a senior international match, will travel directly to the ÖFB Under-21 squad, which will play a test match against Scotland in Wiener Neustadt on Friday evening. Rangnick informed the trio on Friday after training and before their departure to Switzerland, where the EURO dress rehearsal will take place in St. Gallen on Saturday. "It's a decision that wasn't easy for me. It was important for me to explain my reasons to all three players in individual discussions. I did that today after the final training session," said Rangnick.

Alexander Schlager

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

"It was clear then that it made no sense!"
It had already been announced at this meeting that Alexander Schlager would not be part of the squad. This was confirmed on Thursday evening in a phone call between Rangnick and the Salzburg keeper, who was still the number 1 in the European Championship qualifiers.

"It was the case that his knee reacted yesterday or the day before during a running session. It was clear then that there was no point in hoping that he would be fit to play in the next two weeks. And if we progress, we certainly won't change the goalkeeper in the round of 16 or quarter-finals," said Rangnick.

The European Championship kicks off on June 14, with Austria facing France, Poland and the Netherlands in the group stage.

Here is an overview of our EURO squad:

Goal: Niklas Hedl (SK Rapid, 1 international), Heinz Lindner (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL, 36), Patrick Pentz (Bröndby IF/DEN, 6)

Defense: Flavius Daniliuc (Red Bull Salzburg, 2/0 goals), Kevin Danso (RC Lens/FRA, 19/0), Philipp Lienhart (SC Freiburg/GER, 20/1), Phillipp Mwene (FSV Mainz 05/GER, 11/0), Stefan Posch (FC Bologna/ITA, 31/1), Leopold Querfeld (SK Rapid, 2/0), Gernot Trauner (Feyenoord Rotterdam/NED, 10/1), Maximilian Wöber (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER, 24/0)

Midfield: Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig/GER, 37/14), Florian Grillitsch (1899 Hoffenheim/GER, 42/1), Marco Grüll (SK Rapid, 5/0), Florian Kainz (1. FC Köln/GER, 27/1), Konrad Laimer (Bayern München/GER, 35/4), Alexander Prass (Sturm Graz, 5/0), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund/GER, 78/17), Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen/GER, 10/0), Matthias Seidl (SK Rapid, 3/0), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig/GER, 23/0), Patrick Wimmer (VfL Wolfsburg/GER, 11/1)

Attack: Marko Arnautovic (Inter Milan/ITA, 112/36), Maximilian Entrup (TSV Hartberg, 3/1), Michael Gregoritsch (SC Freiburg/GER, 54/15), Andreas Weimann (West Bromwich Albion/ENG, 24/2)