Kevin Danso Ungkap Ambisi Timnas Austria Jelang Piala Dunia

Bek tengah Tottenham Hotspur Kevin Danso menegaskan kesiapan Tim Nasional Austria untuk tampil kompetitif dan mengincar target tinggi dalam turnamen Piala Dunia mendatang demi mencetak sejarah baru bagi negaranya.

Dilansir dari Flashscore dan Tribal Football, kehadiran Austria dalam kompetisi sepak bola paling bergengsi di dunia ini sekaligus mengakhiri penantian panjang seluruh generasi di Wina selama 28 tahun.

"A lot of pride. When you're a child, the World Cup is the biggest dream you can have. I've worked my whole life to experience moments like this. Today, I mostly feel gratitude towards everyone who helped me get here, but also a lot of excitement at the thought of representing my country on the biggest stage in world football." ujar Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.

Danso menilai ada antusiasme masif yang menyelimuti generasi tim nasional saat ini karena publik merasakan adanya potensi yang luar biasa dari kebersamaan skuad.

"Yes, definitely. We know we have the chance to write an important chapter in Austrian football history. There's a lot of excitement around this team because people sense there's something special about this group. We have talent, but above all, real unity and a strong collective mentality." kata Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.

Pemain lini belakang tersebut juga memandang momentum turnamen ini hadir di saat yang tepat bagi perkembangan karier profesionalnya yang kini jauh lebih matang.

"I think so. I've had different experiences, in several leagues, and each step has helped me progress. Today, I feel more complete, more mature, and calmer than ever. I trust in my abilities but also in the experience I've gained over the past few years." tutur Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.

Terkait perannya di dalam tim, Danso lebih memilih untuk memberikan dampak nyata secara langsung melalui etos kerja di lapangan daripada sekadar ucapan.

"I'm not someone who talks just for the sake of talking. I mainly try to lead by example every day, through my work, my attitude, and on the pitch. With experience, you naturally take on more responsibility. If I can help the younger players or bring stability to the group, I do it gladly." sebut Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.

Identitas permainan Austria saat ini diakui berakar pada kedisiplinan kolektif, keberanian, serta intensitas kerja keras yang setara antar-pemain.

"Our identity is based on intensity, courage, and collective discipline. We're a team that works incredibly hard for each other. No one is above the group. We want to be aggressive in a positive way, press high, play with energy, and set our own tempo." ungkap Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.

Perubahan besar dalam internal tim nasional ini tidak lepas dari peran penting pelatih Ralf Rangnick yang menanamkan filosofi serta ambisi baru sejak kedatangannya.

"He brought a very clear philosophy. Every player knows exactly what's expected of him. He gave us a strong identity and an ambitious mentality. He constantly pushes us to step out of our comfort zone and believe we can compete with the best nations." jelas Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.

Secara personal, Danso mengombinasikan ketangguhan duel fisik dengan ketenangan dalam mengambil keputusan untuk membangun serangan dari lini belakang.

"I like to defend going forward. I'm a player who enjoys duels, who likes to protect his team and impose a physical presence. But modern football also demands a lot of composure on the ball and good decision-making. So I try to combine aggression, defensive intelligence, and quality in building from the back." papar Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.

Target awal yang dibidik oleh Austria adalah mengamankan posisi untuk lolos dari fase grup sebelum melangkah lebih jauh di fase gugur.

"The first step is obviously to get out of our group, but we don't want to set any limits for ourselves. In a tournament like the World Cup, anything is possible when you have a united and ambitious group. We respect every team, but we're going there with the ambition to achieve something great for our country." pungkas Kevin Danso, Bek Tengah Timnas Austria.