Jungwirth moves from ÖFB A-team to U21 after Zawieschitzky injury

Background: Switch between A- and U21 squad

Zawieschitzky, who is a regular starter at Salzburg, is out with an injury whose exact diagnosis the ÖFB initially did not specify. The club and the federation informed on Wednesday about the goalkeeper change between the A- and U21 squads. The federation thus responded to the absence without having to restructure the entire squad.

Jungwirth himself was most recently in the A-team squad, which is simultaneously fulfilling international fixtures. The switch takes place after consultation between team officials and the club. The LASK goalkeeper brings professional-level appearances and is expected to give the U21 additional stability at international level.

The match against Denmark takes place on Friday in Vienna and is, according to the ÖFB, potentially decisive for the U21's European Championship qualifying campaign. The team needs points in the remaining fixtures to secure direct qualification or a place in the play-offs. With the personnel change in goal, the federation is relying on experience from the professional ranks.

Impact on the A-team

Parallel to the U21 match, the Austrian A-team under head coach Ralf Rangnick is continuing to prepare for the Ireland game. From this group, Jungwirth is being released to the U21, which adjusts the A-team's squad planning at short notice. The A-squad thus temporarily loses a goalkeeping option for the training week.

From the further reports around the ÖFB, mentions also emerge of international matches against Kosovo and references to Saarbrücken as well as to the Israeli federation, though these are not directly connected to the U21 squad change. At the center of the sporting announcement is the goalkeeper swap and the significance of the match against Denmark for the European Championship qualifiers.

Significance for the European Championship qualifiers

The original U21 plan of going with Zawieschitzky in goal is thus void. Jungwirth takes over the role and is expected to support the team on the road to the European Championship. Should Zawieschitzky recover, he could be available again for the upcoming U21 qualifiers.

Overall, the episode shows how closely the A- and U21 teams are interlinked in terms of personnel within the ÖFB. Beyond the U21, further names such as Sascha Horvath and Matteo Bignetti were mentioned in the reports, though without being directly connected to the goalkeeper swap.

Jungwirth's next test in the U21 jersey therefore comes in a direction-setting qualifier. Vienna is the venue for a match in which the Austrian youth selection faces Denmark and must pick up points with an eye on the European Championship finals.