Austria 3 – North Macedonia 1 | Praise, a spark of history

Bracelets weigh more than all the pressure in the world. The one of Goran Pandev, national hero Even before settling in Bucharest – he himself opened the doors to North Macedonia of its first major international tournament -, it served him to enlarge his legend with a goal for the history books. And that of David praise, Captain General, it was worth shed his shackles in the action that earned Austria their maiden Eurocup victory. A spark of history. The third time lucky. Geniuses eat apart.

The entry ‘flashes’ were directed towards Alaba, for his leadership in Austria. And, above all, by the invention of the Austrian coach, Franco Foda, to place it not in the lateral or in the medullary, not properly as central, but libero. Versatility that has been decisive in his signing for Real Madrid after a life at Bayern. And that in this case, Foda must have imagined, would be useful to protect the centrals, to start the plays of Austria and to surprise Macedonia with a 3-5-2, with the same drawing as the idolized Angelovski.

And, although the game of mirrors did not hold any superiority for the Central Europeans – the Macedonian core, commanded by the Levantinist Bardhi, very inspired-, they did find a recurring crack on Alioski’s back. And in taking advantage of it, it was used thoroughly Sabitzer, the talent of Leipzig, who sent a pass to the far post that Lainer understood to perfection to beat Rayista Dimitrievski. And to dedicate it to Christian Eriksen, with the message ‘Stay strong’ written on a T-shirt. It was minute 18 and Austria promised them happy, with his first goal in the first half of a major tournament from Spain-82.

Nothing is further from reality. Alaba and Salitzer themselves would appear in the 1-1 photo, just ten minutes later. Hinteregger rejected a ball up front with such bad luck that it bounced off Sabitzer and ended up at Trajkovski’s feet. The mess would have stopped there had it not been for trying to protect the ball between Bachmann and Alaba what they did was precisely the opposite, lose him, with a possible foul of the Majorcan forward on the goalkeeper, and leave it on a plate to the rival who would never have chosen in such a predicament.

Pandev, 37 years and two decades and a week in his selection, he scored an already legendary goal at will: North Macedonia’s first in a major tournament and the second by an oldest player in the history of the European Championship, after Ivica Vastic, curiously Austrian, in 2008.

The meeting was beautiful, which was defined between psychology, physical wear and tactics. Like Foda’s amendment in the second half, with some changes that gave air to Austria and were able to neutralize the onslaught of a Macedonia pushed by Bardhi as far as the midfielder and his team endured. Between Gregoritsch and Arnautovic, who had just entered, they forced Dimitrievski to make his umpteenth save. Until then, the switch for the redemption of the goalkeeper lasted.

Because in the final stage the Austrians imposed their greatest experience – it is their third European Championship, second in a row -, their physical background or, simply, their best occupation of the spaces. In which he incurred He praises as he frees himself from the shackles of the defense to burst which end from the left to serve Gregoritsch on a tray 2-1.

And that of Arnautovic, who had not started because he came out of a thigh injury, but who has not forgotten to score or make friends, not even playing in China, like those of its controversial celebration in the meantime of the sentence, with the rival behind already decomposed. A lot of the most festive was that of the entire Austrian national team as soon as the meeting ends. It is not for less: it is his first win in a European Championship. And the first in a great tournament since the World Cup in Italy-90.