EM 2021: why Alaba Arnautovic rams her finger in the cheeks – sport

Marko Arnautovic is a professional footballer who sometimes confuses his choice of words. Unforgotten how the former Bremen and today’s China legionnaire drew his hat to goalkeeper Heinz Lindner: “Shampoo!” Or when he underlined that he wanted to see his singularity underlined in every activity: “I don’t want to make a drink, that’s 08/50, I’m not,” he said when he recently presented his own brand of gin . However, there have also been comments that led to complications, for example when he tried to prevent a police officer from bothering him: “I earn so much, I could buy your life.”

With that in mind, it was perhaps a good thing that captain David Alaba was immediately on hand when Arnautovic, who came on after about an hour, scored the 3-1 final score in the 89th minute with his goal in the game against North Macedonia in Bucharest grabbed his cheeks, fixed his comrade’s jaw and thus spoiled the fun for the lip readers. What that would have given: Austria, the formerly great football nation, managed to land a victory at a European Championship for the first time and thus write “history”, as coach Franco Foda had demanded again and again and then celebrated again and again on Sunday . And then Arnautovic comes and sets everything on fire?

Granted, it’s an insinuation. No outsider knows what Arnautovic really said or wanted to say; There was speculation about greetings to fans and teammates or the coach Franco Foda, who had only called him in as a reservist. Or was he just celebrating drawing level with the “wonder team” player Toni Schall, who once scored 27 goals for the Austrians? That must be considered unlikely, especially since Arnautovic was actually extremely upset about his role as Joker.

The tour through Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdizic gives the Austrians no security

“I can say that he’s not 100 percent satisfied. We players always want to play,” said captain David Alaba. But all good, Alaba added: “You saw what kind of character he is. He came in and gave 100 percent straight away. That’s why I perceived him positively. He was always there for the team, even when the coach gave him the decision has communicated that he is only sitting on the bench. “

It can be assumed that he suffered terrible agony. As satisfied as Foda was with the performance of his team after the game, the presentation seemed inadequate, especially in the first half, which he had to watch completely on the reservist bench. The North Macedonians showed the solemnity of the moment, and that apparently provided them with a plus in motivation. The Austrians, on the other hand, had the ball, but their laziness and lack of ideas in the construction was striking. Not least because the ÖFB team is really not lacking in talent, Franco Foda has a great generation of players available, especially from the German Bundesliga. Alaba conceded “that we didn’t have the solutions in the last third of the attack” because there were “phases in the first half where we slowed down”.

On the other hand, the North Macedonians showed how a clear game idea helps to overcome individual weaknesses. Not even the lead by Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdizic after a formidable Sabitzer flank gave the Austrians security. And as if to underline that, the Austrians lined up mistakes after mistakes when they conceded Goran Pandev: Martin Hinteregger shot his friend Marcel Sabitzer, the ball flew into the penalty area, goalkeeper Bachmann could not hold it and then stood in Alaba’s way. Pandev pushed in, the first ever goal for the North Macedonians in a tournament.

The Austrians struggled in the second half, but there were moments of surprise when Alaba, who had taken on the central role in the three-way defense chain, pulverized the opposing defensive lines with powerful advances. In doing so, he created spaces where previously none could be found.

“I don’t have any children yet, but I imagine that this is just as nice as having children.”

The appearance suggested that Alaba was acting of its own accord, or out of anger at the chaos of duels and inadequate passports that had piled up in front of him. But that had been discussed beforehand, “because I think the coach also analyzed the opponent,” as Alaba would later say. He livened up the game and, above all, created a decisive, lucid moment: with a precise cross at the six-yard box, which Michael Gregoritsch from Augsburg, also substitute, used to take the lead. He had a difficult year behind him, said Gregoritsch after the game, he didn’t even know whether he would be appointed. “I have to give short answers. It’s just fantastic. It’s so nice to score for your country at a European Championship. I don’t have any children yet, but I imagine that it’s just as nice as having children.”

And yet: Arnautovic’s goal to the 3: 1 final score remained, or more precisely: his cheering with gestures. At the EM training camp, Arnautovic caused a sensation not only because he had traveled in a Rolls Royce, but also because he was struggling with a muscle injury. Coach Foda was therefore too risky to bring him from the start. “I know that players always see situations like this a little differently,” said Foda – and did not want to decide whether Arnautovic will start in the second group game against the Netherlands.

Arnautovic made no claims in this regard, at least not when a bit of adrenaline had drained from his body and Alaba no longer rammed his fingers in his face. The victory is a huge step, regardless of his goal. “I’m happy that the team won, that was a huge step,” said Arnautovic. And: “We are ready for more.”