Christoph Baumgartner: The Versatile Midfield Maestro
Austria started their Euro 2024 campaign with a game against France. France began the match in a 4-2-3-1 shape and were attacking right from the word go. Austria started with a 4-4-2 shape and deployed a good press as expected from a side managed by Ralf Rangnick, as Christoph Baumgartner accompanied Michael Gregoritsch in the front two of Austria.
France were quite comfortable in playing around the press and created a good amount of chances. Later in the game, Baumgartner dropped into the number 10 space with Marcel Sabitzer going ahead. He collected the ball under pressure and had the ability to find his teammate by playing slick one-twos in the middle of the pitch which helped Austria progress the ball and create chances. The Austrian front line was flexible with Sabitzer and Baumgartner dropping into spaces and pushing ahead alternatively.
From Reading to Pas-De-calais: The Formidable Rise of Austria’s Kevin Danso
In the 13th minute, Baumgartner displayed great vision and awareness. A throw-in was taken from the right side and he was the target. He cheekily left the ball between Adrien Rabiot and N’Golo Kanté, removing the French duo out of the equation without touching the ball, and then played the ball into the striker.
Then, n the 24th minute, he received the ball on the left side right outside the box. He chipped the ball with great control to beat Rabiot and cut in but was stopped by Jules Koundé in the middle of the box. This was another instance where he showcased his skill. In the 35th minute, Baumgartner had one of the best chances in the game but was denied by Mike Maignan, and later in the 38th minute, France took the lead with an own goal scored by Maximilian Wöber from the cross delivered by Kylian Mbappé on the left wing.
France won the game 1-0. Throughout the game, Baumgartner switched between the left, right, and center, showcasing his versatility. He also displayed calmness and good vision on and off the ball and played a big role in progressing the ball and always tried to create something.
Born on 1st August 1999 in Horn, Austria, Baumgartner started playing football for his local club SV Horn and showed promising signs. To continue his development, he then moved to the youth academy of SKN St. Pölten where he developed his basic skills. He trained at a higher level and developed the versatility to play in different midfield roles.
Overcoming a Global Powerhouse – The Charming Underdog Story of Christian Ilzer’s Sturm Graz
In 2017, Baumgartner gathered a lot of attention from scouts and moved to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. This was a significant step in his career. At only 18 years of age, he had to adapt to a new country and new standards set to play in the Bundesliga. Baumgartner was up to the challenge and progressed from the under 19 team to making his first-team debut against Werder Bremen on 11th May 2019.
He went on to play 26 matches, contributing 7 goals and 2 assists in his first Bundesliga season, helping Hoffenheim finish 6th in the league. In the 2020-21 season, Baumgartner was a regular starter, playing 31 matches for Hoffenheim. He scored 6 goals, provided 3 assists, created 34 chances, played 33 long balls, and completed 35 dribbles. Defensively, he won 31 tackles, 185 duels, 59 aerial duels, 24 interceptions, 140 recoveries, and won the ball 22 times in the final third.
Baumgartner made his debut for the Austrian senior national team on September 4, 2020, in the UEFA Nations League B, where he contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 4 matches, helping them qualify for the Nations League A. Baumgartner also played in Euro 2020 where he scored the only goal in a must-win game against Ukraine to help Austria progress to the Round of 16, where they lost to Italy in extra time.
The Austrian was also a key player in Hoffenheim’s Europa League campaign, scoring 3 goals and getting 1 assist in 8 matches. Despite his efforts, Hoffenheim bowed out in the Round of 32, losing 2-0 to Molde in the second leg after a 3-3 draw in the first. The 2020-21 season was very important for Baumgartner as he established himself for club and country. He was a regular starter and had a great impact when he was on the pitch.
The Austrian Wunderteam: The Greatest Team You Don’t Know About
“Christoph has quickly become an essential part of our team. His ability to change the game with his creativity and energy has been invaluable. His performances in the Nations League have shown that he is capable of competing at the highest level, and he has a bright future ahead with the national team,” said Franco Foda, the Austria National Team Manager at the time.
“Christoph has been outstanding throughout our Europa League campaign. Despite our early exit, his performances were a highlight, and he consistently showed his quality on the European stage. His growth as a player has been remarkable, and he remains a key asset for Hoffenheim moving forward,” quoted Sebastian Hoeneß (Hoffenheim Manager at the time).
In the 2021-22 season, Baumgartner maintained his standard in club football, scoring 7 goals and contributing 2 assists. His versatility and good blend of attacking and defensive skills really stood out and were a tactical gift to any manager. Sebastian Hoeneß acknowledged his abilities, stating:
“Christoph’s versatility is a major asset for us. His ability to play effectively in multiple positions, whether it’s in midfield or in a more advanced role, gives us tactical flexibility. Beyond his attacking contributions, Christoph’s defensive work rate and ability to press opponents make him a complete player. He’s shown great commitment to both ends of the pitch, which is crucial for our team’s balance and defensive solidity.”
In the 2021-22 World Cup Qualifications, Baumgartner contributed 3 goals in 7 games to help Austria qualify for the World Cup. He proved his importance with his contributions and became a key player in the Austrian squad. The 2022-23 Bundesliga season was his best season in the German top flight. He contributed 7 goals, 3 assists, 27 chances, and 33 long balls, and he also completed 54 dribbles, won 211 duels, 73 aerial duels, and got the ball back 29 times in the final third.
Austria: The Struggles and Surprises in the 2008 European Championship
He displayed great skill and passing range and had the ability to drop into the right space, receive the ball and progress it through fast one-twos or by dribbling his way out of trouble into dangerous positions. Baumgartner also had the goal-scoring ability and the creative vision to pick out his teammates. Adding to this, he could play multiple roles and he also did the defensive work very well. He was a complete player.
Baumgartner’s performances helped him get a transfer to RB Leipzig. In the 2023-24 season, he played 32 matches, out of which he only started 11. He contributed 5 goals and an assist. It wasn’t his best season but he showed great signs. On 22nd November 2023, Austria beat Germany 2-0 in a friendly match. In the 29th minute, Baumgartner started a counter-attack and made a powerful run through the midfield and picked out Sabitzer.
Sabitzer shifted the ball onto his right foot and then slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the near post. In the 73rd minute, Austria scored a goal by ripping through the heart of Germany. David Alaba played a through ball down the middle, Gregoritsch flicked it to Baumgartner, who chipped the ball over an advancing Kevin Trapp to seal the game.
Coming back to the Euros 2024, Austria played their second game against Poland. In the 9th minute, Austria took the lead. Philipp Mwene played a good cross from the right and Gernot Trauner headed it in. Poland came back with Krzysztof Piątek scoring a composed goal into the right bottom corner from a rebound. In the 66th minute, Alexander Prass played a great direct ball from the right flank into the center.
Marko Arnautović cheekily left the ball for Baumgartner and he scored, sending Wojciech Szczęsny the wrong way. He displayed great composure in this goal as he was surrounded by Polish players when he took the shot but he was able to pick the right pocket and also send the goalkeeper the wrong way. The game ended 3-1 with Arnautović scoring a penalty in the 78th minute.
In their final group stage game, Austria played the Netherlands. Baumgartner came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute when Austria was trailing 2-1. It was a very close game with Memphis Depay making the scores level in the 75th minute. In the 80th minute, Baumgartner played a great through ball between two defenders into Sabitzer who’d made a run around both players. Sabitzer then smashed the ball into the roof of the net to help Austria win 3-2 and advance to the knockout round of the Euros.
Despite their best attempts, Austria were knocked out in the Round of 16 for the second tournament in a row, with Türkiye progressing to the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, Christoph Baumgartner has displayed his playmaking ability and creativity and showcased his dynamic attributes on and off the ball. With a host of key players like David Alaba and Xaver Schlager missing out due to injury, Baumgartner carried the baton and excelled for Austria. At 24, he has the quality to become a world-class attacking midfielder in the coming years and play a pivotal role for both Austria and RB Leipzig.
By: @TSpec1al
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Richard Sellers / Allstar / Getty Images