The Austrian national team has successfully completed its World Cup dress rehearsal. Sabitzer scored the winning goal for the home side while shorthanded in an extremely turbulent friendly against Tunisia.
Austria’s national team has pulled off a victorious World Cup dress rehearsal. On Monday, three days before departing for the U.S., the ÖFB squad celebrated a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in front of 35,100 spectators at Vienna’s Happel Stadium, thereby winning all three of its friendly matches this year. Sabitzer scored the winning goal in the 63rd minute; by that point, the Austrians were already down a man following a red card for Laimer (37th minute).
Before kickoff, there had been bad news for the ÖFB team: Baumgartner felt a twinge in his thigh during warm-ups, and the exact extent of the injury was initially unclear. Gregoritsch replaced the Leipzig pro in the starting lineup, which also included Arnautovic and goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
The hosts, who played with black armbands in memory of the late former national team goalkeeper Manninger, had their first shot on goal in the fourth minute. However, Tunisia’s goalkeeper Chamakh had no trouble stopping Sabitzer’s attempt.
Tunisians hit the woodwork three times
After that, the Austrians began to waver defensively and had the woodwork to thank on three separate occasions. Mejbri curled a free kick from a tight angle onto the crossbar (12th minute), Chaouat hit the post from close range (18th minute), and a 30-meter free kick by Ben Slimane flew onto the crossbar (38th minute).
The lead-up to the free kick had sparked some debate. Laimer, playing as a left back, prevented a golden opportunity for Chaouat with a handball and was initially shown a yellow card. After a VAR review, French referee Jeremie Pignard changed the decision to a red card. However, Laimer’s sending-off will not result in a suspension for the World Cup.
Head coach Ralf Rangnick reacted by temporarily moving Xaver Schlager to the left of the back four; at halftime, the German then made five substitutions. For Arnautovic, who is retiring from the Austrian national team after the World Cup, his likely final international match at the Prater came to an end, as did the careers of center backs Lienhart and Alaba.
Austria more dangerous with fewer players
Among those brought on were Chukwuemeka and Kalajdzic. The latter received a pass from Schlager in the penalty area, but his shot narrowly missed the far post (48′). The Tunisians, who had mostly sat deep in the first half, took a few more risks with their numerical advantage, which opened up more space for the home side—this led to the Austrian national team posing significantly more of a threat despite being a man down than they had before Laimer’s red card.
The result was Sabitzer’s 1-0 goal. After a build-up involving Chukwuemeka and Posch, the Dortmund pro slotted the ball into the near post with a composed shot from inside the penalty area. Sabitzer scored his 26th goal in his 98th international match, tying him with Herzog and Sindelar for eighth place on the all-time ÖFB scoring list. It was also the Styrian’s third goal in his third ÖFB match this year.
Now two days off for the ÖFB
Three minutes later, the Austrians also hit the woodwork. Chamakh deflected a shot by Friedl from close range onto the post, and Posch’s follow-up attempt hit the crossbar. After that, the Austrians retreated and did not allow the Tunisians any further significant chances to equalize. Sabitzer missed an opportunity to make it 2-0 in the 92nd minute when, under pressure, he failed to get the ball past Chamakh.
Alaba and the rest of the team now have two days off before flying from Vienna to Los Angeles on Thursday and traveling from there to the team’s headquarters in Goleta, near Santa Barbara. The first World Cup match is scheduled for June 17 in Santa Clara against Jordan; no further friendly matches are planned before then.