2:3 – Austria still has to wait for the European Championship ticket

Austria’s national soccer team still has to wait for the fixed ticket for the 2024 European Championship in Germany. Yesterday’s 2:3 (0:1) against Belgium wasn’t enough. The opposing star ensemble was too calm and efficient in attack in a game in which Rangnick’s team needed more luck in the course of the game – and yet almost managed a draw after being 3-0 down.

It’s a shame – because everything was set up for a magical night in the Ernst Happel Stadium, which was completely sold out with 47,000 spectators. There was actually the kind of atmosphere that only exists in the Prater during the really big playoffs.

And the players also tried to soak it all up before kick-off. Stadium announcer Andy Marek even announced the team lineups after the players were already on the field – so that everyone would get an extra adrenaline kick.

Team boss Ralf Rangnick had also given the team a courageous attitude, as befits a final. The 4-2-3-1 was a copy of the first leg in Brussels. From the first second there was a lot of attacking pressure to get the fans involved straight away. That succeeded. Rangnick also took risks with the lineup. Leipzig player Nicolas Seiwald moved to the right full-back position in order not to lose Konrad Laimer in midfield. Sturm Graz player Manprit Sarkaria made his national team debut to take advantage of Christoph Baumgartner’s speed on the wing.

The Belgians interrupted the Austrian flow with the quick 0-1 (12th). Philipp Lienhart didn’t even get into a duel against Dodi Lukebakio on the wing. The goal was a shock, but it didn’t put a damper on the home effort. Baumgartner missed the best chance (42nd).

Even after the break, Austria came out of the locker room bravely. First, Maximilian Wöber lacked precision when he had the chance to equalize (50′). Belgium’s Lukebakio’s 0-2 was the mirror image of the game: the ball was deflected unstoppable by Nicolas Seiwald. And yet, despite Lukaku’s 0:3 (58th), things got exciting again: Laimer’s supposed consolation goal to make it 1:3 (72nd) was followed by a yellow-red card for Belgium’s Amadou Onana after a foul on Xaver Schlager (78th).

And because the VAR signaled to the referee a handball by Belgium’s Arthur Theate in the penalty area, Marcel Sabitzer also scored to make it 2-3 (84′). There was no victory before the game on Monday in Azerbaijan, but there was a boost of motivation to secure the European Championship ticket there with a win (or a loss of points for Sweden). The players were already celebrated yesterday – rightly so – like European Championship participants.