Scoring chances were really limited for the ÖFB team. In the first half, a shot by Matthijs de Ligt blocked with the head by Christoph Baumgartner was the highest of emotions. Only in the closing stages did Austria see opportunities for a goal with a long-range shot by David Alaba and then by Karim Onisiwo. Until then there was even more possession than for the “Oranje”, but nothing compelling was achieved.
“The opponent was very determined when he finished on goal. We tried to play backwards instead of resolutely coming to a conclusion. We were often through the first half on the wing, but then stopped again. There were one or two good options from the second row. We were always hesitant there. There was also a lack of depth, ”said Foda, explaining the basic problem of why it didn’t work out against the Dutch with a goal.
Highlights of Netherlands – Austria
Austria lost 2-0 to the Netherlands in Amsterdam in the second European Championship match.
Better across than steep
Foda’s plan was to move with Marcel Sabitzer and Christoph Baumgartner on the ten position between the lines of the Dutch. Michael Gregoritsch was supposed to provide the necessary depth as a striker, but came too often into midfield. However, the ÖFB team carried out its attacks with far too little speed to bring the “Oranje” into serious trouble.
Instead of consistently carrying out the attacks, the players preferred to play across rather than steeply. Nobody took responsibility for the last passport. The Dutch had an easy game with the ÖFB offensive. The absence of the suspended Marko Arnautovic played the “Oranje” more into the cards than the Austrians would have liked. It made them more predictable, and the hosts took advantage of this fact mercilessly.
Ball losses cause “pain”
While Foda saw an improvement in his team in the second half, one aspect ran like a red thread through the game. In addition to the hesitant attacks, the ÖFB selection also made way too many ball losses. “Our problem in the first half was that we often lost balls in the forward movement. This enabled the Dutch national team to switch extremely well. We had pain in our defensive behavior, ”said Foda.
The Dutch were literally invited to show their strengths due to slight ball losses. For Foda that was the decisive difference in the game in addition to the hesitant offensive performance. “Every loss of the ball hurt when moving forward. We lost the ball too easily. It is precisely then that the Dutch are extremely dangerous. They showed that too, ”said Foda.
Praise for team morale
At halftime, the ÖFB team was lucky enough to be 0: 1 behind the penalty caused by Alaba and converted by Memphis Depay in the eleventh minute. In the 67th minute, the second goal for the “Oranje” by Denzel Dumfries followed. Foda praised the team for trying to turn the game around and leaving with a draw.
“We really wanted to get the next goal. We almost managed to do that. Five minutes before the end we also had a huge opportunity through Karim Onisiwo. Had we managed to make it 1: 2, we might have turned the game around again, ”said Foda. “Overall, we have already planned more. But you shouldn’t forget that we played against a top team that is very compact and has exceptionally good strikers. Nevertheless, the team tried everything for over 90 minutes. “
“Final” in Bucharest against Ukraine
After the defeat, the ÖFB team will have a “final” against Ukraine on Monday (6:00 p.m., live on ORF1) in Bucharest for promotion to the round of 16. With a win, second place and thus a game in London against the winner of Group A – probably Italy – would be fixed. But also a draw would mean third place and with four points the very likely promotion.
“Now it is important that the team recovers and regenerates. It’s still up to us to qualify for the round of 16, ”said Foda, who is also betting on Arnautovic’s return. Hopefully the 27-time team goal scorer will be the player who closes the construction site in the last zone.
