European Championship qualification: Austria presses, Belgium leads 3-0

2023-10-13 19:12:00

Austria’s national soccer team got off to a very dynamic start in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, which was sold out with 45,000 spectators, but Belgium initially cheered. The “Red Devils” are leading Group F 3-0 in the European Championship qualifiers, meaning they are clearly on course to win the group.

Dodi Lukebakio, striker for Sevilla FC, caught the red-white-red team, which had courageously started with the first corner after a few seconds, cold and scored goalkeeper Alexander Schlager unstoppable. That was in the twelfth minute.

After half an hour, only the result speaks against Austria. The ÖFB team has 58 possessions, six shots (three of which were on the opponent’s goal) and three corners. The performance is strong and the audience is carried away. There are chances to equalize: Manprit Sarkaria fails with a low shot (20th), shortly afterwards Patrick Wimmer finishes (21st). Philipp Lienhart misses with his head (38th).

Belgium puts the pinpricks, Austria takes the game. When can the fans cheer? As things stand, probably not. Even though the second half starts promisingly again with chances for Christoph Baumgartner (50th) and Maximilian Wöber (51st), Belgium is simply more callous. A “double strike” makes it 3-0 for the guests.

Lukebakiu scores again, whose long-range shot is deflected unstoppably by Nicolas Seiwald to make it 0-2 (55′). Less than 180 seconds later, the captain is there: Romelu Lukaku makes it 0:3 (58th). This is extremely bitter.

The line-up had a big surprise in store Team boss Ralf Rangnick, who called this match the “finale”, decided on the following formation: As expected, former LASK captain Alexander Schlager started in goal, who secured his status as number one with strong performances truly deserved.

Konrad Laimer was expected to be on the right in the back four, and he also fills this role very well at FC Bayern Munich. In fact, this time he appeared as a right winger, while Nicolas Seiwald played the defensive role on this side. Another Rangnick move that had an impact.

Seiwald replaced the injured Philipp Mwene, who played in this position in the decisive 3-1 win in Sweden. As expected, the central defender duo was Alaba’s replacement Kevin Danso and Freiburg legionnaire Philipp Lienhart. Maximilian Wöber, who was committed to Borussia Mönchengladbach and got fit in time, came into play at left back.

Xaver Schlager and Florian Grillitsch played in central midfield, the TSG Hoffenheim player slipped into the squad because Marcel Sabitzer (Dortmund) is apparently not at 100 percent after adductor problems.

Offensively, Laimer swirled over the right, Christoph Baumgartner (Leipzig) and Patrick Wimmer (Wolfsburg) increasingly over the left.

Striker Manprit Sarkaria
Image: gepa

And now comes the really big surprise: Manprit Sarkaria from SK Sturm Graz was given his chance as a center forward. He was preferred over Junior Adamu (Leipzig) and Sasa Kalajdzic (Wolverhampton). It looked as if Rangnick wanted to force a strong solution. The 27-year-old Sarkaria is a native of Vienna, is under contract with the “Blackies” until 2025 and has scored three goals and prepared three in his six Bundesliga appearances this season. The 1.80 meter tall man (unexpectedly) makes his international match debut.

The list of failures is long and includes six names: David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic, Stefan Posch, Michael Gregoritsch, Karim Onisiwo and Philipp Mwene. Sabitzer can at least sit on the bench. Konrad Laimer wears the captain’s armband.

The Belgians only have number three in goal, Matz Sels. Maybe the Austrians, who mathematically are still two points short of a ticket for the 2024 European Championship finals in Germany, can take advantage of this.