Alexander Schlager
SalzburgGK
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Feb 1, 1996 (30)
Right
6'2"
176 lb
Three saves against Jordan
Schlager logged three saves and conceded one goal during Austria's 3-1 win Tuesday against Jordan.
Analysis: Going into the Austria-Jordan game, Schlager and Patrick Pentz competed to start in goal Wednesday, and the former won out. Among his three saves, two were particularly strong. For the first, Schlager's vertical ensured his save-requiring jump was enough to stop Odeh Fakhoury from scoring, not helped by a preceding deflection from David Alaba. The second save is arguably more impressive, considering Schlager fully extended his body to save a shot from Ali Olwan. Olwan eventually got a piece of Schlager with one of this World Cup's best goals thus far, which explains why the goalkeeper did not log a clean sheet Wednesday. But going into Austria's next game, he has great momentum, which is needed. Scheduled for Monday, Texas will host both Austria and Argentina, the defending World Cup champions coming off an excellent win against fellow groupmate Algeria, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick.
Expected starter in goal
Schlager has been named in Austria's World Cup squad and is expected to compete with Patrick Pentz for the starting goalkeeper role, with the RB Salzburg stopper holding a slight edge heading into the tournament.
Analysis: Schlager spent the season at RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga, bringing the experience of having been Austria's first-choice goalkeeper for several years and a commanding presence that coach Rangnick rates highly despite Patrick Pentz's consistently impressive performances at Brondby. The keeper brings reliability and leadership that has kept him in manager Rangnick's plans despite the emergence of worthy competition, and the decision on who starts the opener against Jordan on June 17 will be one of the most closely watched selections ahead of the tournament. Schlager heads into the World Cup determined to hold off competition and cement his status as Austria's undisputed number one.
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