Room for improvement
European Championship dress rehearsal: Austria – Serbia from 8.45 pm
Successful first dress rehearsal for Austria's national soccer team - although there is still room for improvement! Just under two weeks before their first EURO appearance, Ralf Rangnick's squad celebrated a 2:1 win against Serbia on Tuesday evening. Patrick Wimmer (10th) and Christoph Baumgartner (13th) scored for the Red-White-Red, after which the home side became increasingly desperate in front of the Serbian goal.
It was the sixth success in a row for the ÖFB team, and the dress rehearsal for the finals will take place on Saturday in St. Gallen against Switzerland.
Rocket start in the opponent's penalty area
Team boss Ralf Rangnick's starting line-up included Patrick Pentz in goal, Kevin Danso and Maximilian Wöber in central defense, Florian Grillitsch in the middle, Romano Schmid and Wimmer on the wings and captain Marko Arnautovic up top. As in recent matches, the Austrians started at full throttle against the Serbs - Baumgartner appealed in vain for a penalty after just eight seconds following a challenge from Uros Spajic.
Baumgartner was instrumental in the hosts' opening goal. The Leipzig professional played Wimmer free, who slotted the ball into the net from a few meters out via the inside of the post. Austria went one better: Danso won a duel against the Serbian star striker Dusan Vlahovic, followed by a quick switch and an ideal pass from Grillitsch to Baumgartner, who outwitted goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic with a clever low shot from just outside the sixteen.
A short time later, Serbia missed the best chance to equalize. Dusan Tadic got the ball free from around twelve meters, but just missed the goal (15th). Red-White-Red then withdrew and left the initiative to the Serbs, who attacked mostly without a plan - until the 35th minute: Tadic crossed to the middle, Spajic headed against the bar and Salzburg professional Pavlovic dusted off the ball with his head and via the inside of the bar.
Bump for Grillitsch
The intense match was evenly poised until the break, but Grillitsch and Nemanja Maksimovic had to be substituted shortly before half-time after colliding with head injuries. Michael Gregoritsch came on for Arnautovic after the break.
The Serbs stepped up a gear, but did not create any serious scoring opportunities. Austria, on the other hand, had the chance to go one better - "joker" Andreas Weimann appeared alone in front of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, but had the ball snatched away by the keeper (77'). The home side then held on to their lead without any major problems to record their second win in a row against Serbia.
The Austrian squad will now train in Vienna until Friday. On this day, the squad will also be reduced to the 26 players who will take part in the European Championship. After the final test against Switzerland, the players will have a few days off before checking into the EURO base camp in Berlin on June 12.
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