Team boss Ralf Rangnick led the Austrian national soccer team to its third European Championship participation in a row.
Austria used its second match point on Monday with a 1-0 (0-0) win in Azerbaijan and became the eighth team to book its ticket to the 2024 finals in Germany.
The match winner was Marcel Sabitzer, who came on as a substitute in the second half. The Dortmund player, with his nerves on edge, converted a hand penalty in the 48th minute. For Austria it is the sixth European Championship participation.
The red-white-red selection missed their first match point last Friday against Belgium (2:3). In Baku, too, the weakened guests struggled for a long time. In the first round, Munich’s Konrad Laimer missed the best chance to take the lead (18th). On the defensive, however, the Austrians, who lined up with numerous Bundesliga legionnaires, revealed some weaknesses.
Azerbaijan misses a top chance shortly before the end
Sabitzer’s goal gave the favorites a little more security, but the guests had to tremble until the end. Shortly before the end, Toral Bayramov (90.+1) missed the great chance to equalize when he hit the outside post from a few meters. Guido Burgstaller, who was nominated at short notice, was sent off with yellow-red (90th + 4th).
The Rangnick team can test its European Championship form in the international match in Vienna on November 21st against the selection of the German Football Association (DFB).
In addition to Germany and Austria, France, Belgium, Spain, Scotland, Portugal and Turkey are sure to be there at the 2024 European Championship (June 14th to July 14th).