France in luck
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The Austrian national soccer team experienced a bitter start to the European Championship against France on Monday. Of all things, an own goal by Maximilian Wöber in the 38th minute decided the game. The ÖFB team then put in a spirited performance, but were unable to equalize.
Austria's national soccer team started the European Championship in Germany with a defeat despite a spirited performance. Ralf Rangnick's side were beaten 0:1 (0:1) by runners-up and tournament favorites France in Düsseldorf on Monday evening. The only goal of the game came from an own goal by Maximilian Wöber (38').
Grillitsch in the starting line-up
Rangnick selected Florian Grillitsch in the starting line-up for his first final round match as team boss. The Hoffenheim international should provide security with his calmness in phases of possession and was therefore preferred to the more attack-minded winger Patrick Wimmer. The role of Nicolas Seiwald's partner in defensive midfield had been the last open position in the ÖFB squad following the withdrawal of the injured Xaver Schlager. Rangnick did not come up with any surprises at the start of the tournament.
France were the more dangerous team right from the start in front of 47,000 spectators, including around 20,000 Austrian fans. At times, the Austrian side attacked deep in their opponents' half, but the world number two repeatedly found playful solutions to break free. Superstar Kylian Mbappe, who had dominated the headlines in his home country the day before with an incendiary speech against a political shift to the right and in favor of a high voter turnout, made his first appearance on the left in the 8th minute, but ÖFB goalkeeper Patrick Pentz was not taken by surprise at the near corner.
Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano consistently whistled the Austrians' energetic tackle, but the French eased off somewhat after their initial offensive. The ÖFB team had the best chance to score before the break: Captain Marcel Sabitzer set up Christoph Baumgartner, but he waited a long time in the penalty area and failed to beat keeper Mike Maignan, who was already on the ground (36'). Baumgartner had always scored in his previous five international matches - the first Austrian to do so since Hans Krankl in 1976.
Wöber the unlucky man
The cold shower followed two minutes later: Mbappe broke through on the right-hand side against the timid Phillipp Mwene, who was yellow-carded. Wöber unhappily headed his cross into his own far corner. In stoppage time, Pentz was quick enough out of his goal to prevent Mbappe from scoring again (45.+1).
Unlucky Wöber, who had also picked up an early yellow card in his first European Championship game, pushed Antoine Griezmann roughly into the boards after the break, but both remained on the pitch - Griezmann briefly wearing a turban. Mbappe had the 2:0 on his feet: The future Real Madrid striker escaped the entire ÖFB backline with a run, but missed when alone in front of Pentz (55').
Rangnick reacted with a triple substitution: Gernot Trauner, Wimmer and Marko Arnautovic came on for Wöber, Grillitsch and center forward Michael Gregoritsch, who had hardly made an offensive appearance. The Austrians had significantly more possession after the break, with Sabitzer claiming a penalty in vain after a three-on-one with Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba (62'). At the other end, Griezmann only touched Theo Hernandez's cross with the tip of his boot (66') and Pentz also saved two shots from Marcus Thuram (67', 83').
Equalizer would not come
The Austrians continued to attack, but failed to create any clear equalizing chances. Mbappe had to be treated for a long time after a collision with Kevin Danso, his face covered in blood. When he briefly returned to the pitch, the France captain immediately dropped to the turf again - and received a yellow card for his unsportsmanlike conduct. It was Mbappe's last action. He was replaced by Olivier Giroud, who sliced over the ball in the penalty area deep into stoppage time (97').
Rangnick threw Alexander Prass and Romano Schmid into the match in the final stages, but the final offensive was fruitless. Austria ended a run of seven games without defeat. The ÖFB team also failed to score for the first time in 17 games. The last time this happened was in a 2-0 defeat in St. Denis in September 2022, also against France. Rangnick's side conceded their second defeat in their last 17 international matches. Austria have now lost three of their four European Championship openers.
France, on the other hand, started a European Championship or World Cup final round with a three-pointer for the sixth time in a row. Les Bleus have lost only one of their last eleven matches against the ÖFB team. They are likely to face the Netherlands on Friday (21:00) in the Group D clash in Leipzig for the group win. The Austrians will have to score points against Poland in Berlin immediately beforehand (18:00).
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