Ralf Rangnick and the Austrian national soccer team narrowly missed out on a win against world champions France in the Nations League. In Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, both teams separated 1:1 (1:1). After the first three games under new coach Rangnick, Austria is second in Group 1 with four points, while France is only fourth with two points.
In the first meeting between Austria and France in more than twelve years, Andreas Weimann scored the opening goal for the hosts in the 37th minute. The attack by the French brought at least the equalizer in the 83rd minute by superstar Kylian Mbappe.
In the end, Pentz holds the draw
Rangnick had to do without Hoffenheim’s Stefan Posch for the duel with the French. In the previous game against Denmark, he suffered a bruise and a muscular injury in the pelvic area. After 37 minutes it was Weimann who, after a nice combination via Marko Arnautovic and Konrad Laimer, scored the lead for the hosts.
In the second round, the guests came out of the dressing room with a lot of speed. Mbappe, who came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, scored a deserved equalizer just before the end and even had the winning goal on his feet, but goalkeeper Patrick Pentz held on to the tie.
Meanwhile, World Cup runners-up Croatia celebrated their first victory in the Nations League and stopped the surprise team from Denmark. Zlatko Dalic’s team defeated the leaders 1-0 (0-0) and climbed to third place in Group A1 with four points. The Danes suffered their first defeat after victories in France and Austria.
Mario Pasalic (69th) scored the goal of the evening after a corner. The hosts were initially the more active team in the sold-out Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. Croatia started with Bundesliga pros Andrej Kramaric (TSG Hoffenheim) and Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt) in the starting XI.
The guests only got stronger after the change of sides, when superstar Luka Modric and Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich) were involved. Wolfsburg’s Jonas Wind came on for the home side from the 61st minute, Yussuf Poulsen (83rd) from RB Leipzig had to be patient until the final phase – and was replaced again in the 90th minute. Robert Skov from TSG Hoffenheim came on for Poulsen.
