Herbert Prohaska: 'These calls are the worst thing there is'

Herbert Prohaska, who led Austria to the 1998 World Cup, expressed surprise at the nearly three-decade wait for the team's next qualification. He recalled that after the 1998 tournament, despite losing key player Toni Polster, the team remained competitive, drawing with world champions France and beating Switzerland.

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No, actually not.

Prohaska believes the current Austrian squad possesses significantly greater depth than in previous years. He pointed to the 2008 European Championship squad, questioning how they were competitive at all. The current team, he argues, can absorb the loss of key players like Baumgartner, with replacements offering comparable quality.

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For me, it was the end – and a shock for the players.

Despite the increased quality, Prohaska identified a persistent issue: Austria's struggle to win decisive matches. He cited recent eliminations from the European Championship against Turkey, missing out on winning their Nations League group against Serbia, and a narrow qualification for the World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina as examples.

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The big advantage today is the depth.

He also stressed the underappreciated importance of players' physical condition at the end of a long season, noting that tournaments often occur at an inopportune time. Furthermore, Prohaska emphasized the need for a positive team atmosphere, urging players to focus solely on the tournament and avoid distractions, while acknowledging the more liberal approach to family and friends accompanying the team compared to his era.

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Winning crucial games – that is exactly the last step that is still missing for us.