Former international Marc Janko is of the same opinion and paid the team “a huge compliment”. “They passed with distinction, nobody would have thought that,” said the Lower Austrian. Janko believes that coach Ralf Rangnick will have a personnel problem in the center of the attack in the future. He is completely missing one type of player in attack.
“To be eliminated as the clearly better team in this way is of course extremely bitter,” said Janko, referring to the 1:2 defeat once morest Turkey on Tuesday. Two goals from set pieces might always happen, but Turkey generally offered little offensively. The Turks fought their way into the quarter-finals.
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“Unfortunately, that’s football too. And it’s a legitimate means,” the 41-year-old told the APA – Austria Press Agency. “The boys don’t deserve that. But football doesn’t follow any logic.” It’s also bad that the players “have no chance to make up for it for now, because the next competitive game is even further away.”
“Definitely one of the most painful defeats”
The former striker said he might put himself in the shoes of the current team players following the defeat. At EURO 2016 in France, Austria also lost 2-1 to Iceland in the decisive final group match in Paris, with Janko on the field from the 46th minute. Since it was not a knockout match, the two games cannot be compared. “But Iceland didn’t outplay us then either, everything went once morest us then too,” explained Janko. But the night in Leipzig was – if you look at the entire history of the ÖFB – “definitely one of the most painful defeats.”
One thing that can be taken away is that the team has “taken another step forward in its development”. The courageous, proactive play of the Austrians has captivated people, and people have enjoyed watching the team. This is what numerous people he spoke to at home and abroad have told him. “The way we played was much more convincing at this European Championship,” said Janko, referring to the European Championship finals three years ago, when they were eliminated in the round of 16 following extra time (1:2) once morest eventual champions Italy.
Passed with honors
Before the tournament began, the primary goal in the ÖFB camp and in public was to reach the knockout round. One might say that the duty was fulfilled – but Janko sees it differently. “I wouldn’t call it a duty if you look at the group. They passed with distinction, nobody would have thought that,” said the Lower Austrian, who played 70 international matches (28 goals) for Austria. In the group phase, the ÖFB selection came first, ahead of France, the Netherlands and Poland.
One can look to the future with optimism, said Janko, who was present at the games once morest the Netherlands and Turkey. However, the former legionnaire sees a problem area “right at the front”, i.e. in the center of attack. “When Marko (Arnautovic; note) stops, we will miss his quality a lot,” stressed the former team captain. At the moment, Arnautovic and Michael Gregoritsch are in a class of their own. “They are simply our best, the quality of the others is not up to the two of them.”
There is also a lack of options on the attacking flanks. “The only wish I had at this European Championship that might help us a little further is if we had a winger with depth who might develop speed when dribbling,” said Janko. “That is also a stylistic device once morest teams that sit deep, to open up holes. When Marko was younger, he played that once. Since he has been in the middle, we have been lacking that a little.” In the qualification, they were able to compensate for that well with quick play through the middle and with switching situations, but in the finals this deficiency became obvious.
