David Alaba: first steps, teams
This year’s World Cup is almost upon us, which means one thing; we’ll be sifting through the fantasy Premier League player pool to find the best footballers. With the world’s biggest sporting event on the horizon, we take a trip down memory lane to look at some greats who graced the Premier League stage. Here we’ve handpicked some of the best David Alaba moments, so you can start your engines and prepare to take on Team Germany in just over a month.
Dream debut, goal vs. Germany
This season’s World Cup will be Germany’s first appearance in the tournament, after missing out on the 2018 edition. The World Cup winners of 2014 and holders of the European Championship, Germany, will finally be looking to make their mark on the global stage. We’ll have our eyes peeled for the next big thing from Deutschland as we await the start of the tournament. On February 16th, David Alaba debuted for Liverpool in a 4-0 win over Leicester City. With 13 minutes to go in the first half, Alaba received the ball on the left side of the pitch and showed excellent skills before placing a lovely ball into the back of the net for his first-ever Liverpool goal. The 21-year-old quickly became popular in the Anfield crowd, earning him a standing ovation from the home fans. What a way to make your debut!
This was just the start of a long and illustrious career for Alaba. In the coming months, he scored four goals for Liverpool in all competitions, demonstrating his tremendous talent and eye for purpose. By the way, if you are betting on sports and want to get a bonus code, go to https://odds2win.bet/bonuses/nepal/22bet and collect your bonuses.
First international competition
Alaba’s international career got off to a flying start when he was selected for the Austria squad for the 2019 European Championships. Only 20 years old at the time, the Bayern Munich product represented the nation of his father, who was born and raised in Austria. Despite missing out on the 2014 World Cup due to injury, Alaba was a regular in the Austria team throughout the qualification process. On June 14th, he debuted for Austria in a 3-1 win over Sweden. Four days later, he scored his first international goal in a 1-1 draw with Romania. What a way to start your international career! This was followed up by further appearances for Austria in the 2020 International Champions Cup and the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Not bad for a 20-year-old!
Alaba’s displays for Austria earned him a spot in Germany’s World Cup squad, despite the nation claiming the other semifinalists, France and Portugal, as their own. He’ll be looking to show his worth to Die Mannschaft ahead of the summer’s tournament. If he steps up to the big time, he’ll have to prove himself in the most demanding competition. Germany’s World Cup squad will look for a positive result after two consecutive defeats from France and Portugal. The semi-final stage awaits. Who will make it to the final?
Premier League debut
Alaba’s stellar performances for club and country earned him a spot in Jürgen Klopp’s first team at Liverpool. The German coach was a fan of the youngster, who he saw as having the potential to become an elite player. On August 25th, 2019, Alaba made his Premier League debut for Liverpool in a 3-1 win over Newcastle. The defender soon established himself in the starting lineup, playing alongside Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip. He kept his place in the starting XI for the club’s next three league matches. It was a great debut to cap off a memorable year for Alaba.
Alaba’s first season at Anfield saw him make 22 appearances in all matches, 17 of which were in the league. He scored three goals, providing three assists, leading to a +6.67 attacking return. Although he started the season on the bench, Alaba quickly adapted to Klopp’s system and established himself as a first-choice defender.
Sporting prowess
Alaba’s athletic prowess was on full display when he won the gold medal in the 200m race at the 2012 London Olympics. He is the first Austrian defender to win Olympic gold and the second overall. The 21-year-old is a full-back by trade but can play in multiple positions across the back four. This versatility makes him an excellent fit for Klopp’s system, where he can play either on the defense’s right or left side. What more could an aspiring defender want?
Alaba started his sporting career playing forward before moving into defense, where he excelled, earning a move to Bayern Munich. Before long, he had established himself as a first-choice defender at the Allianz Arena, becoming the first Austrian defender to do so. His versatility is such that he can play anywhere across the back four, enabling him to cover across the pitch. This makes him a threat on the counterattack and allows Klopp’s Liverpool to play expansive football with the ball at the back. No wonder the German coach loves him!
Whether defending or attacking, Alaba is a danger to any opponent. With his athletic prowess, quick feet, and sharp elbows, defenders everywhere are in for a shock when he decides to attack. His blistering pace allows him to keep up with most opponents despite his small size, making him a constant threat down his side. An Olympian, international, and Premier League winner, Alaba is the definition of a successful sporting career. Will he continue to rise to the top? Only time, and Germany’s World Cup, will tell.
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