Austria’s Baumgartner Ruled Out of World Cup Due to Injury; Alaba Fit to Travel
In a disappointing turn of events for Austria’s national football team, midfielder Christoph Baumgartner has been officially ruled out of the upcoming World Cup. This unfortunate decision follows a thigh muscle injury he sustained while warming up for a friendly match against Tunisia on Monday, as confirmed by the country’s football association on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old, who has been in stellar form playing for RB Leipzig this season—contributing 17 goals and 9 assists—will not take part in the tournament. His absence comes after an MRI examination verified the seriousness of his condition, prompting team officials to urgently seek a replacement.
Coach Ralf Rangnick expressed his disappointment in a statement, highlighting Baumgartner’s significance to the team both as a player and a person. “This is of course very bitter news for Christoph and for us as a team. He is an important player and a central personality within our team. Now our full support is for his recovery,” stated Rangnick.
On a brighter note, Austria’s captain David Alaba has been cleared to travel with the squad after recovering from concerns over a muscle injury that led to him being substituted at halftime during their previous match, which ended in a narrow 1-0 victory.
The Austrian team is scheduled to depart on June 4th. Their first group stage match is set against Jordan on June 16th, followed by encounters with reigning champions Argentina and Algeria.
