Marcel Sabitzer Takes Break from Austria Duty Ahead of Euro 2028

Marcel Sabitzer has hit pause on his international career, stepping back from Austria duty just as the Nations League looms.

The 32-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder will skip this year’s Nations League group-stage fixtures, the Austrian Football Association confirmed, with the decision reported by Channel NewsAsia. He plans to reassess his future with the national side before qualifying for Euro 2028 kicks off next March.

Three Seasons Packed Into Two Years

Sabitzer’s numbers for Austria tell their own story: 102 caps, 27 goals, a decade of graft at the heart of the national team. The problem now is not desire, but the sheer volume of football.

He pointed to a punishing stretch over the last two years. After Euro 2024, his calendar barely eased. With the Club World Cup and the World Cup folded into that spell, he effectively felt like he had crammed three seasons into one relentless cycle.

And the load is not about to lighten. This campaign he is again staring at a full slate with Dortmund: Bundesliga, German Cup, Champions League. At some point, something had to give. For Sabitzer, that something is Austria – at least for a few months.

He has already spoken with national coach Ralf Rangnick and agreed on a temporary break. At the start of next year, both sides will sit down and decide whether he returns in time for the Euro 2028 qualifiers.

Rangnick Regrets Absence, Backs Decision

Rangnick did not hide his disappointment at losing such an experienced figure, but he accepted the reasoning. The Austria head coach acknowledged Sabitzer’s arguments and made it clear that a final call on the midfielder’s longer-term role will come before the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign begins.

In the meantime, Rangnick must reshape his squad without one of his leaders.

He is due to name his group for the upcoming Nations League fixtures shortly: Israel in Linz on 24 September, Kosovo in Vienna on 29 September. October brings two more tests on the road, away to Ireland in Dublin and Kosovo in Pristina.

Those matches will reveal how Austria cope without a centurion in midfield – and whether this is just a breather for Sabitzer, or the first step towards a very different future for both player and national team.