Baumgartner About Wales: You are getting used to some hardness

Christoph Baumgartner is set to a tough game. Wales will not give Austria's football national team on Thursday (20.45 pm) in the semifinals of the World Cup play-off in Cardiff. However, the Hoffenheim legionnaire warned not only before the alleged hard gait of the British, but also before their exceptional king Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey - even if they are currently rarely used in their clubs.

"Of course, two names emerge, two absolute world class players," said Baumgartner on Monday in the ÖFB team camp in Vienna. Bale is currently not the first choice at Real Madrid like Ramsey at the Glasgow Rangers. "But these are players who have achieved so much, which can already switch the switch on the day X when it is necessary."

Especially Bale is always good for crucial actions, which did not just know since the Champions League final 2018 decided by him almost in al1. "The left foot is already a torch when he concludes," said Baumgartner. "But I'm very sure that we have good defenders who can hold him in chess." Of the Welsh, with several current and former players from the English Premier League, the 22-year-old expects a portion of physicality. "They are used to a certain hardness, it will also be a good mood in Wales. But many of us know such situations."

Baumgartner has achieved six goals in 17 international matches - his most important in the decisive EM group game in June against Ukraine (1: 0). In Germany, he finally shone with three goals in four league games. Should it come to a penalty shootout in Cardiff and he stands on the field, he would be available as a contactors. "At the U21 I did not have the best Elferquate, but I have self-confidence and I am in good form," emphasized the Lower Austrian. However, you want to decide the game before.

Baumgartner has to do without Hoffenheim colleague

The importance of the game is all aware. "It's about everything, it's the first final game." The anticipation is huge. "You already fever up in the weeks before that, now the day X is just before. Everyone is extremely hot on the game," Baumgartner assured. By shifting the play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine on June, it may even be "a tick lighter" to direct the absolute focus on Wales. "We want to pull the thing on our side - even if it gets very hard."

The Jungstar is scheduled in the ÖFB offensive fix. On his club colleagues Florian Grillitsch he has to do without Corona infection. "He's an extraordinary player in the way he can open the game," said Baumgartner. Grillitsch is not only very important for Hoffenheim, where he was very important as a defensive chief "extremely stable", but also for the national team in which he had set since the European Championship center. "I'm very sorry for him, very sorry that he can not be there. But the most important thing is health, it's all so good," said Baumgartner.

Corona has scored Grillitsch like the ÖFB defender Christopher Trimmel and Philipp Lienhart to a tee. One would try as a footballer to protect themselves as good as possible from infections, Baumgartner explained. "But of course we are people. We are also going to eat in a restaurant and try to have a nice evening - just after the long time in which you could not do that anyway." That's important for the head.

But the pandemic is not over, that was all aware of all despite relaxation. "The topic is still there. There is still a risk." Especially with the currently high infection numbers. Baumgartner itself was positive in October. The ÖFB team must live with the situation like all other teams. "We have a lot of quality in the squad," said Baumgartner. "That's why we can scare off the failures."