First European Championship success in history: Austria celebrates in Bucharest

A joker duo gave Austria its first victory at a European Football Championship. Michael Gregoritsch (78th minute) and Marko Arnautovic (89th) scored in the final phase on Sunday in Bucharest to make it 3-1 against tournament newcomers North Macedonia, who had been equal for a long time. Stefan Lainer (18th) put German national coach Franco Foda's ÖFB team in the lead in front of around 13.000 spectators, and veteran star Goran Pandev (28th) equalized with the help of the defense around David Alaba.

In 2008 and 2016, the Austrians left the group stage without a win. The North Macedonians, who sensationally defeated Germany in World Cup qualifying at the end of March, narrowly missed out on their first European Championship success. Lainer takes the lead – bad luck with the equalizer The Austrians took their first chance coldly. After a wonderful cross from Marcel Sabitzer, Lainer took the lead at the second post with a direct pass. The North Macedonians needed a few minutes to collect themselves again - and were then brought back into the game by the Austrians. After the people in front of him shot at each other, keeper Daniel Bachmann stormed out of his box but was unable to secure the ball. Captain and national hero Pandev, who had brought the North Macedonians into the tournament in the qualifying playoff against Georgia (1-0) in November, benefited and made it 1-1. Goran Pandev made it 1-1 after a mistake by goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann. © APA/afp / DANIEL MIHAILESCU

In the second half there were initially no chances - then North Macedonia suddenly had the big one. Boban Nikolov was denied from a tight angle by ÖFB keeper Bachmann, who reacted well this time, and Pandev put the follow-up shot over the goal (63'). Two minutes later, Joker Gregoritsch missed on the other side.

The inclusion of Gregoritsch and Arnautovic was good for Austria's attacking game - and ultimately paid off. After a cross from the now more offensive Alaba from the left, Gregoritsch scored from a few meters to make it 2-1 for the Foda team, and later Arnautovic increased it to 3-1.

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First European Championship success in history: Austria celebrates in Bucharest

Huge celebration for Austria, who won their first ever European Championship game in Bucharest. However, the success over North Macedonia was a lot of hard work.

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