Nations League Live: Slovenia vs. Austria, from 8.45 PM

Austria’s national team celebrates the start of the Nations League in Ljubljana. Rangnick has to improvise after many absences. We report in real time.

Austria’s national football team is starting the fourth edition of the Nations League with a tricky task. The ÖFB selection will face Slovenia in League B Group 3 on Friday (8.45 p.m./live ORF 1) in Ljubljana, a team that has only lost once in its last ten international matches – and that was in the European Championship round of 16 against Portugal after a penalty shootout. Coach Ralf Rangnick is also plagued by personnel problems, with nine players unavailable.

Nations League Live: Slovenia vs. Austria, from 8.45 PM.

“Nine is a big number for a small country like Austria,” said Rangnick on Thursday evening at the final press conference in Ljubljana. “We still have enough options across the board to replace them.” The situation is particularly serious in central defense, where four potential regular players – David Alaba, Gernot Trauner, Kevin Danso and Philipp Lienhart – are unavailable. “We have to be a bit creative,” said Rangnick.