2023-06-20 17:34:48
It wasn’t enough for a win, but Austria’s U21 national soccer team can start the European Championship qualifiers in autumn with confidence. On Tuesday, Werner Gregoritsch’s team drew 1-1 (0-1) once morest Slovakia in Poprad and tackled the emergency without defeat in eight games (4 wins, 4 draws). Matthias Braunöder rewarded the red-white-red efforts in the finish with the equalizer (83rd).
In an open game at a good level, Austria found chances four days following the 3-1 win once morest Iceland before the break. The best, a volley from Christoph Lang, fell to the well-reacting Slovakian goalkeeper Michal Kukucka (16′). The hosts also became dangerous once or twice, and then the bell rang in added time in the first half. While defender and captain Pascal Estrada was treated on the sidelines, the Slovaks leveraged the red-white-red defense with three quick passes, Tomas Rigo shot in from a few meters (45+1).
The ÖFB kickers, who changed quite a lot compared to the games in March, switched from a back four to a back three during the break, and in addition to Braunöder, Yusuf Demir was an additional offensive force. While Slovakia, who are hosting the European Championship in 2025, missed two top chances to make it 2-0 (68th, 72nd), the guests, who were pushing for an equalizer, were able to write a few minutes before the final whistle. After a pass from “Joker” Manuel Polster and a nice run into the depths, Braunöder completed the co-production of two Austria-Vienna actors with a shot into the far corner from an angle.
From autumn, Austria will face France, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus in the European Championship qualifiers. The nine group winners and three best runners-up qualify directly for the finals in summer 2025 in Slovakia. The other six runners-up will play the last three tickets in the play-offs in November 2024. The starting signal will be given on September 7, 2023 in Cyprus, followed by the home game once morest Bosnia on September 12.
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