Ralf Rangnick's knowledge of football is obvious. But the 65-year-old Swabian also has a lot to offer psychologically, hitting the right nerve with the players with his words.
21.06.2024, 21:00
21.06.2024, 21:56
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- Austria beat Poland 3:1, picking up their first three points in Group D and staying in the race to qualify for the round of 16.
- Christoph Baumgartner played a big part in the important victory with his opening goal. After the final whistle, the Leipzig player revealed that coach Ralf Rangnick had motivated him with a speech during the break.
- Austria face the Netherlands in the final group game and still have everything in their own hands.
Christoph Baumgartner ran straight to the touchline after his opening goal against Poland and hugged coach Ralf Rangnick, giving him a loving "wadschn". There is a great deal of mutual respect between the football coach from Germany and his 24-year-old protégé. This was evident not only in the scene after the 2:1, but also in the interview the Leipzig man gave after the game.
"He has given me strength"
"He supports me brutally every day, he told me during the break that he needs me," said Baumgartner. The midfielder did not cut a conspicuously bad figure. But he was "missing something", said the now 15-time international goalscorer, who has had a difficult season at the Bundesliga club from Saxony. Rangnick had given him a lot of strength during the break. "He just talked to me for two or three minutes and gave me encouragement. That simply helped me. It was thanks to him."
The thanks were probably mutual. Baumgartner's 2:1 goal paved the way for the Austrians' all-important victory in the strong group with France and the Netherlands. Thanks to the three points, the often dubbed secret favorites not only keep their chance of qualifying for the round of 16, they also have it in their own hands in their final group match against the Netherlands.
"We never give up"
"We were really under pressure, we noticed that yesterday and today," said Baumgartner. From the 20th minute onwards, they were no longer as energetic, the pressure would have paralyzed them to a certain extent. The reaction in the second half, after Rangnick had apparently found the right words in the dressing room, was all the more remarkable. "What sets us apart is that we never give up and always keep fighting. At the end of the day, the win was deserved and we're incredibly happy that we got it," said Baumgartner, who was voted player of the match.
