Recently, in an official interview with FIFA, Austria striker Sasa Kalajdzic spoke about his previous injuries, national team coach Ralf Rangnick, captain David Alaba, and the upcoming World Cup.

When the final whistle blew in Vienna, the smile on Kalajdzic's face barely faded. In the Austrian Bundesliga final round that just concluded, LASK Linz defeated Austria Wien 3-0 to clinch the league title. After the match, the towering striker, standing over two meters tall, lifted the championship trophy high, savoring the moment.

For many players, a league title might be just another milestone in their career. But for the 28-year-old Kalajdzic, it clearly holds special significance.

Because in recent years, he has been constantly battling injuries.

From serious injuries during his time in the Bundesliga to prolonged absences after moving to the Premier League, and then recurring knee problems, this tall striker—once considered the cornerstone of Austria's attacking future—was sidelined for extended periods. Many times, people even began to doubt whether he could return to the highest level.

But now, he has not only regained his form but also become a key figure in Linz's journey to the title in the final stages of the season.

In his last 10 matches, Kalajdzic was directly involved in 13 goals, helping the team achieve a historic double. Most notably, the team won the Austrian league title again after 61 years.

In the decisive final round match, Kalajdzic provided two assists and earned a penalty, almost single-handedly dominating the game.

And shortly after winning the championship, more good news followed.

The striker, who previously played for Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Wolves in the Premier League, was officially selected for Austria's 26-man World Cup squad.

For a player who has long battled injuries, this not only marks a return to competitive football but also represents a long-overdue validation.

In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Kalajdzic discussed his physical recovery, Austria's national team progress in recent years, and the team's World Cup aspirations.

"The team always comes before the individual."

This season, Kalajdzic has not only maintained consistent goal-scoring records but also impressive assist statistics.

For a traditional tall striker, this is actually quite uncommon.

When asked about this, Kalajdzic appeared very composed. "For me, the team always comes first."

He said: "Our squad is strong in many aspects, and I can also provide a lot of support to the team. At the same time, we have many exceptional players in specific areas."

"Especially in the attacking third, we have many very quick players. Obviously, I'm not known for my pace, but I can help create opportunities for them."

"So my assist numbers have increased recently. Of course, honestly, it could be more, but what matters most is that the team benefits from it."

In fact, this playing style has gradually become one of Kalajdzic's most distinctive characteristics.

His height gives him exceptional hold-up play ability, and since his injuries, he has become increasingly skilled at supporting teammates through link-up play, short passes, and creating space.

Compared to his younger days when he relied purely on physical dominance, Kalajdzic now plays with greater maturity.

"The World Cup is always on my mind."

For every national team player, the World Cup represents the highest stage. For Kalajdzic, this significance is even more special.

Because in recent years, he has missed major competitions repeatedly due to injury. "The World Cup is, of course, always on your mind."

He said: "But the most important thing this year was actually to rediscover my game and maintain consistency. I've achieved that."

"At the same time, I also hoped my body could adapt again to the intensity of continuous play, and now it can."

Speaking about his recovery process, Kalajdzic expressed deep emotion. "I'm truly very grateful, especially to God for giving me this chance again. I put in a lot of effort for my recovery, and all the issues that needed to be addressed have been resolved. So I'm very satisfied with my current condition and happy that everything is moving in the right direction."

However, he was also very clear that the prerequisite for his World Cup dream is always good health.

"Ultimately, if you don't have a healthy body, if you can't play consistently, then you can't participate in the World Cup."

Returning to the National Team: "A Complete Relief"

Before Austria announced its World Cup squad, there was actually doubt about whether Kalajdzic would be selected.

Although he was performing very well in the second half of the season, his previous long absence still made some people concerned about his physical condition.

And after learning he was back in the national team, Kalajdzic acknowledged it was a complex and special emotion.

"Actually, my club coach was the first to tell me the news."

"On the day of the squad announcement, he told me he was happy to see me back in the national team system."

After that, Kalajdzic saw the official national team roster and received a message from head coach Rangnick.

"That moment was truly beautiful."

He said: "Especially after playing for the national team again, I wasn't particularly nervous, but unconsciously, I felt that the huge weight on my shoulders had finally lifted." "It was a complete relief."

For players who have experienced long-term injuries, the real difficulty is often not the surgery or recovery itself, but the uncertainty about whether they can return to their previous level in the future.

And the recall to the national team means Kalajdzic has proven himself once again.

The Changes Rangnick Has Brought

In recent years, Austria's national team has made significant progress under coach Rangnick.

They not only qualified directly for the World Cup as group champions, but their overall playing style has also become more distinctive.

When speaking about Rangnick, Kalajdzic said the coach constantly pushes him to improve his physical condition.

"He told me to keep pushing myself, especially physically and competitively."

"He said that as long as I continue to perform like this and consistently play well for LASK, I would have a good chance of making the World Cup squad."

And according to Kalajdzic, Austria's national team is now capable of competing with any opponent.

"I think we shouldn't fear any opponent."

He said: "Especially this current team—we have many individually brilliant players."

"But more importantly, our greatest advantage is actually team cohesion. Our fighting spirit, game intensity, and team unity are all exceptional."

Under Rangnick, Austria now plays a high-pressure, high-intensity, quick-transition style of football.

And this style has gradually become one of their most important characteristics.

"When you can consistently maintain this game intensity, any opponent will find it difficult. And our entire team is very united—coaching staff, support staff, fans, and even the whole country."

Kalajdzic believes the enthusiasm brought by the World Cup is now clearly felt in Austria.

"Everyone is very excited because the team qualified for the World Cup as group champions, something that hasn't happened in years. Everyone is proud to represent Austria."

The Importance of Alaba

When speaking about national team captain Alaba, Kalajdzic gave him very high praise.

"He is a very important figure for the team, both on and off the pitch. He is someone you can rely on, and he is an authority figure in the team."

Kalajdzic believes one of Alaba's greatest roles is helping the team reduce pressure.

"Because with his career experience, the spotlight often falls on him, so he naturally helps other players share the external pressure."

At the same time, Alaba's personality in the dressing room is also very popular.

"He is a very fun person and always actively participates in team activities. So I think he is very important to Austria."

"The World Cup is the pinnacle of a player's career."

Finally, when asked which player he most looked forward to facing at the World Cup, Kalajdzic mentioned Argentina's N. Gonzalez.

"I always enjoy playing against players I've played with before. Especially N. Gonzalez—I have a good relationship with him."

Additionally, there are also some players on Algeria's team whom he knows from his time at Wolves and Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, for Kalajdzic, the specific opponent is not what matters most.

"Honestly, I'm more looking forward to the entire World Cup experience itself. This is a big stage. I think the World Cup is the highest level a player's career can reach."

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.