Especially since it was the first ÖFB victory in European Championship history in the seventh game and the first in the finals of a major tournament in 31 years. In the duel with the EM debutant, the goal account was screwed from two hits to five, thus laying the foundation for a possible first promotion. The players celebrated this with the ÖFB fans who had traveled in the National Arena before they took the plane to Seefeld.
After an euphoric preparation, in which the team had delivered moderate performance and had been criticized, the right lessons were learned for this game. So David Alaba was able to play his class as a defender in a back three. Overall, it was a great team success with lots of emotions, but in the end it was also “a victory and nothing more”, as Xaver Schlager emphasized.
Highlights of Austria – North Macedonia
With a 3-1 win over North Macedonia, Austria got off to an ideal start in the European Football Championship.
For Michael Gregoritsch it was definitely more than just a goal that he scored against the North Macedonians. The 2: 1 about ten minutes before the end brought Austria to the winning route and the Styrian satisfaction. After a disappointing season at FC Augsburg, not a few found the 27-year-old striker’s EM nomination to be unjustified. “I’m do,” he called into the camera after the gate.
Tears at Gregoritsch
In the ORF interview, Gregoritsch finally had tears in his eyes. “That means everything to me today, it’s my brother’s birthday, I have had a difficult year. This is for everyone who believed in me. It’s wonderful, ”said the visibly moved attacker who scored the 700th goal in the history of the European Championship.
Interview with Michael Gregoritsch
Michael Gregoritsch let his emotions run free.
Gregoritsch also received support from substitute captain Alaba. “In the past few weeks I have kept telling him: You will get your chance, please for me, put it in. Today he showed how important he can be for us, ”said the ÖFB star, who not only impressed as a defender, but also with the help of this goal.
“First and foremost, it shows what kind of character, what kind of team spirit we have in the team, what a breadth of quality we have. It’s nice to see when they come in that they can help us so enormously, “said Alaba, also referring to Marko Arnautovic, who also scored after being substituted on.
“A nice feeling” for Arnautovic
The 32-year-old China legionnaire, who was not allowed to play from the beginning again since a muscle injury, fulfilled, like Gregoritsch, the expectations as a “wild card” and scored the final score. On the field he roared out his obvious anger, after the final whistle and a doping control, the emotions had subsided again.
“It is a great feeling. I’m happy that the team won. The goal doesn’t matter now, ”said the striker, who is now sixth in the all-time ÖFB goalscorer list with 27 goals.
Breakdown gate put away well
However, the focus is on mutual success. In this respect, the opening game against an unpleasant and difficult outsider was a first step in the right direction. The number 62 in the world has established itself over many years and recently won four games in a row, including a competitive game in Germany with 2-1.
“This team is very underestimated from the outside, but they have extremely good players and defended courageously,” said Martin Hinteregger. “But we did very well, I can’t remember any chance the North Macedonians had,” said the defender, who opened the breakdown goal with an unsuccessful attempt to clear things up.
“After that, negative thoughts came up, but we were sure that we would come back and turn the game around because we are the better team,” said Stefan Lainer, who not only played one of his best games in the national team, but also his second goal scored in the 30th international match. As in qualifying, he scored again against North Macedonia.
Relief – and room for improvement
After the botched European Championship 2016, when the expectations were too high and only one point to book in the end, a victory was celebrated this time at the start. The eight players in the squad who were there five years ago felt relief. “Those who were there really felt the pressure,” said Hinteregger.
The same was probably true for the entire team, because the opening game against the North Macedonians was set internally as the key game for a possible first promotion. “We have always said that we absolutely want to win the first game,” said Leipzig legionnaire Laimer.
His midfield colleague Xaver Schlager saw room for improvement. “It was not an easy game, not the best of us,” said the Wolfsburg, who probably also meant the many empty efforts with unnecessary ball losses on the offensive. “We mustn’t exaggerate, victory is calm, but we have to improve.”
Foda is happy for the team
In any case, the victory is one for the history books, for which team boss Foda was also responsible. Together with his team, he not only made the right decisions with the substitution of goalscorers Gregoritsch and Arnautovic, but he also managed to position his best player (Alaba) in the best place on the field for him and the team – a win-win -Win situation.
But Foda was primarily happy for the team. “Congratulations to the players, they made history today,” he said at the press conference. “The win is absolutely deserved. You could tell that the team wanted to win. We believed in victory every second and did everything to achieve it. “
The joy of the success could not be overlooked, but did not last long. “We can enjoy the moment and then have to focus completely on Holland again. We still need points to advance to the last sixteen, ”noted the German.
Arnautovic gave the direction. “Now we have to relax well and then we look to the next game.” On Thursday (9:00 pm, live on ORF1) Austria will meet the Netherlands in Amsterdam, who won 3-2 at the start against Ukraine. Austria, which will face Ukraine in Bucharest on June 21, will start as leaders. Regardless of that, Arnautovic got pleasure after the opening win: “Now we are ready for more.”
