Austria has become the eighth nation to qualify for next year’s European Championships in Germany. Marcel Sabitzer’s penalty goal against Azerbaijan finally secured the European Championship ticket on Monday (October 16, 2023).
After coach Ralf Rangnick’s team had lost three days earlier against Belgium (2:3), who qualified through the win, they used their second match point and are taking part in the European Championship finals for the third time in a row.
Sabitzer, who only came on as a substitute in the second half, took the penalty himself. An opponent in the wall blocked his free kick with his hand and the Dortmund midfielder kept his nerve (48th).
Bayramov helps Austria
However, they were put to the test enormously in the final phase. In the extremely heated final minutes, in which Guido Burgstaller was sent off with a yellow-red card, Azerbaijan still had a great opportunity to score an equalizer. However, Toral Bayramov missed a completely free shot from close range and only hit the outside post (90th + 1). Austria was allowed to celebrate.