2023-10-16 19:41:00
Team boss Ralf Rangnick clapped his hands enthusiastically and his players hugged each other with relief. With a bit of luck, the Austrian national team used its second match point and qualified as the eighth participant for the 2024 European Championships in Germany.
The celebrated match winner in the hard-fought 1-0 (0-0) in Azerbaijan was Marcel Sabitzer, who came on as a substitute in the second half. The Dortmund player, with his nerves on edge, converted a hand penalty in the 48th minute.
“Goosebumps. It means a lot to us,” said Sabitzer following his lucky shot: “We tried to inspire the fans once more with attractive football. We have developed a euphoria, not too much, but there is appreciation.”
Rangnick was pleased that his team qualified in “one of the more difficult groups with one match day to go”.
Austria uses the second match point
After the final whistle in Baku, the fans of the red-white-red selection chanted “Berlin, Berlin, we are going to Berlin” and “Germany, we are coming”. The players put on red shirts with the print “Everything is MACHBAR at NEIGHBOR 2024”.
The Austrians had to tremble once more in the hectic injury time. Toral Bayramov missed the huge chance to equalize (90+1). Former Schalke player Guido Burgstaller, who was nominated at short notice, was also sent off with a yellow-red card (90th+4).
For Austria it is the third European Championship participation in a row and the sixth overall. The ÖFB selection missed its first match point last Friday once morest Belgium (2:3).
ÖFB has been struggling in Azerbaijan for a long time
In Baku, too, the weakened guests struggled for a long time. In the first round, Munich’s Konrad Laimer missed the best chance to take the lead (18th). On the defensive, however, the Austrians, who lined up with numerous Bundesliga legionnaires, revealed some weaknesses.
Sabitzer’s goal gave the favorites a little more security, but the guests had to tremble until the end. “Oh, how beautiful that is,” sang the enthusiastic supporters following the safe qualification.
The Rangnick team can test its European Championship form in the international match in Vienna on November 21st once morest the selection of the German Football Association (DFB).
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