The fans see light at the end of the tunnel: the Nations League game between Austria and Denmark can still be kicked off at 10:15 p.m. A power outage left viewers in the dark for over an hour. However, the spectators in the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna did not let the mood spoil. They create spectacular pictures with the cell phone lights, sway to the loud music and eagerly await the kick-off. Outside the arena, almost 1,500 households are also affected by the power outage.
Critical point of opportunity evaluation
After what feels like an eternity, the teams return to the field and resume the game after another warm-up. The home team started with commitment and put pressure on last year’s European Championship semi-finalists. However, the 18,700 spectators waited a long time in vain for chances to score. In the 27th minute, ex-Bayern player Pierre Emile Höjbjerg put the Danes ahead.
After the break, the team of new coach Ralf Rangnick answered. Offensive player Arnautovic finds Schlager in the backcourt and pushes in to equalize. The spark jumps from the field to the audience, the stadium is bursting with energy. The Ösis are running and want to set the next exclamation mark after the 3-0 victory over Croatia. However, chance evaluation leaves a lot to be desired while Denmark remain ice-cold. Stryger Larsen plucked up courage and curled the ball from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner – 2-1 for the visitors in the 84th minute. The Dane pulls the plug on the Ösis.
France again with coach
While the Austrians were still playing, Group A’s second game was long over. In the new edition of the 2018 World Cup final, Croatia and France separate 1-1 in Split.
This meant that neither of the two teams could really redeem themselves for the false start in the Nations League campaign. Croatia lost 3-0 to Austria on Friday; France lost 2-1 at home to Denmark without coach Didier Deschamps (father passed away).
Deschamps is back in Split, leaving his stars Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Antoine Griezmann (substitute on) and Kylian Mbappé on the bench.
Croatia ends series of bankruptcies
Even without these key players, things are looking good for the French for a long time. Adrien Rabiot (27), builder at Juventus Turin, puts the French ahead in the 52nd minute with his second international goal. Andrej Kramaric, Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga striker, managed to equalize with a superbly converted foul penalty in the 83rd minute. Kramaric has scored in five of his last seven internationals for Croatia.
France have visited Croatia for the second time since the 2018 World Cup final. In November 2020, the French won the Nations League 2-1. Since then, the Croatians had suffered four defeats in the Nations League, with the 0:3 against Austria as a negative highlight. Thanks to the furious final offensive, the Croatians ended at least this negative streak. (SDA/nab)
The results of the Nations League games
League A | Group 1
Austria – Denmark 1:2
Croatia 1-1 France
League B | group 2
Iceland – Albania 1: 1
League C | group 3
Slovakia 0-1 Kazakhstan
Belarus 0-0 Azerbaijan
League D | Group 1
Latvia 1-0 Liechtenstein
Andorra – Moldawien 0: 0
League A | Group 1
Austria – Denmark 1:2
Croatia 1-1 France
League B | group 2
Iceland – Albania 1: 1
League C | group 3
Slovakia 0-1 Kazakhstan
Belarus 0-0 Azerbaijan
League D | Group 1
Latvia 1-0 Liechtenstein
Andorra – Moldawien 0: 0