Ralf Rangnick’s club ethos gives Austria belief they can go all the way

Togetherness and confidence inspired by Red Bull empire is having a lasting effect on surprise contenders.

BELIEF: Austria's Christoph Baumgartner celebrates with Austria's head coach Ralf Rangnick. AP Photo/Petr Josek.

Just outside the centre circle of Austria’s training pitch, Ralf Rangnick stood deep in discussion with his assistant Lars Kornetka.

Nothing could interrupt such focused conversation, but for an interested observer it was hard for attention not to drift. No more than 200 metres beyond the far side, the multicoloured flags that fly atop Berlin’s Olympiastadion’s stands fluttered over a row of trees.