Austria coach Rangnick wary of Jordan challenge at unpredictable World Cup

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/czech-republic/6LHwBDGU/"]Czech Republic[/a] lost 2-1 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]South Korea[/a] last week before Australia spoiled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]‌Turkey[/a]'s return to the World Cup stage by securing a 2-0 ‌victory.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] then came back twice to draw 2-2 with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] on Sunday, ‌and Group B favourites [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a] were held 1-1 by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/qatar/zqzHL77i/"]Qatar[/a], four years ‌after the Gulf nation crashed out winless as 2022 hosts.[/p][p][b]"We have seen many surprises during this World Cup,"[/b] Rangnick told reporters on Monday at the San Francisco Bay ‌Area Stadium where they face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jordan/vNcmJoU2/"]Jordan[/a] in their [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/austria-naHiWdnt/jordan-vNcmJoU2/?mid=OO27CLhe"]Group ⁠J opener[/a].[/p][p][b]"If you looked at the ‌matches and the outcomes, we had 12 draws and only six victories. There ​was no South American team that won.[/b][/p][p]"This is not going to be a walkover. It's going to be an uncomfortable opponent. The ​opponent will try to lure you in, absorb the pressure, and then they will try to use the open space for their counter-attacks.[/p][p][b]"This is ⁠what we expect from them ​tomorrow."[/b][/p][image alt="Austria's upcoming games" id="48f5ded7-44b5-4a34-b769-b58821df6306" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="5e255a0a-8555-443c-8405-22039e8d97d8" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a] will end a 28-year absence from the global showpiece against Jordan, two years after an encouraging run at Euro 2024 where they topped their group before losing to Turkey in the last 16.[/p][p][b]Starting well against Jordan may ‌prove critical if they are to advance from a tough group that also features [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a] and champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a].[/b][/p][p]Austria suffered a pre-tournament blow with the loss of central midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baumgartner-christoph/rqcu4a9O/"]Christoph Baumgartner[/a] to a thigh injury, a player who embodies their aggressive pressing game.[/p][p]Rangnick gave no clues as to his starting side but said he had settled on the 11 for Jordan last week and that his entire squad had a clean bill of health.[/p][p]With the match to kick off at 9 p.m. in the crisp Bay Area ‌evening, players may have little need to pause in each half for ​the contentious hydration breaks, but Rangnick is a fan of them.[/p][p][b]"It is ‌positive for me as a coach, because I can talk to the players, I can give them some advice, and I think there are going to be approximately 65,000 people tomorrow in the stadium,"[/b] the German said.[/p][p][b]"It's going to be very noisy, so I can't ⁠really reach the players and talk ⁠to them (otherwise).[/b][/p][p][b]"So this is going ‌to be an advantage that the team can regroup."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]