Marcel Sabitzer will not be available for the national team until further notice. The BVB player is taking a break, but has not ruled out a return.
The Austrian national team will have to do without Marcel Sabitzer for the time being. The 32-year-old has decided to take at least a break from international football after 102 caps and 27 goals for his country. A return for the 2028 European Championship qualifiers is not ruled out for the Borussia Dortmund player.
“Since the 2024 European Championship, I have effectively played through three seasons due to the Club World Cup and the FIFA World Cup. This season, too, a packed schedule awaits with the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League,” explains Sabitzer. “I’m 32 years old, I want to play football at the highest level for a few more years and I need to manage my energy carefully.”
Head coach Ralf Rangnick regrets the decision, but says: “Marcel and I spoke very openly about the future in the run-up to the World Cup and he shared his thoughts with me, which I can fully understand.” This means Sabitzer will already be missing from the ÖFB squad for the upcoming fixtures: “Of course, it’s a shame that we’ll have to do without him in the Nations League.”
Return possible
Whether and when Marcel Sabitzer will play for Austria again remains to be seen for the time being. However, the ÖFB has not ruled out a return for the experienced player for the European Championship qualifiers, which begin in June. Clarity on the next squad decisions will be provided as early as Monday, when Ralf Rangnick announces his squad for the Nations League opener.
