Austria’s national football team will have to do without a goalie at the European Championship in Germany. Participation is highly questionable, according to RB Salzburg, with the 28-year-old wanting to “finish the healing process quickly”.
Austria’s national football team will have to do without its regular goalkeeper at the European Championships in Germany. Alexander Schlager will be out on Monday evening in Innsbruck after undergoing meniscal surgery on his left knee. Red Bull Salzburg announced this on Tuesday and described the 28-year-old Salzburg player’s participation in the European Championship as highly questionable. The final round starts on June 14th, with ÖFB taking part in the selection process on June 17th.
It’s against France, while the other Group D opponents are Poland (June 21) and the Netherlands (June 25). “My first priority at the moment is to fully focus on the rehabilitation of my knee, which I will complete at my club. “From now on I will do it with all my strength and try to complete the healing process as quickly as possible,” said Schlager. Ultimately, it depends on whether it is possible to participate in the European Championship or not.
It is certain that the club season has ended prematurely. He will be represented by Timo Horn in the last two Bundesliga games against Hartberg and Lask, as well as the bitter 2-0 defeat at Hatteldorf near Rapid. Second, four points behind Sturm Cross, Salzburg have little chance of winning the championship title and must be careful not to be overtaken by third-placed LASK, who are only three points behind.
Schlager suffered a meniscus injury during training at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday and was forced to miss the game. The 15-time ÖFB goalkeeper will be the next top loss after Xaver Schlager and Sasa Kalajdzic (both with torn cruciate ligaments). ÖFB star David Alaba is currently struggling on his way back from this injury, but the match could be too soon for him. Also, other defensemen Philip Lienhart, Kevin Danzo and Maximilian Woeber are currently out.
At national team level, Patrick Pentz, Heinz Lindner, Tobias Lawal and Niklas Hedl are considered potential Schlager representatives. Between posts for Danish club Pentz, Bröndby, Lindner, most recently for Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise in mid-March. In total, the 33-year-old has played just five competitive games this season. Laval (23/LASK) and Hedl (23/Rapid) have little international experience.