Domenico Tedesco got off to a great start on his way to the EURO in his native Germany on his debut as Belgium national soccer coach.
The 37-year-old started qualifying with the Red Devils with a 3-0 (1-0) win in Sweden, and star striker Romelu Lukaku was the match winner with a hat-trick. Ralf Rangnick also took the first step towards his home European Championship with Austria in a 4-1 (2-0) win over Azerbaijan.
Tedesco, with Belgium on Tuesday (8:45 p.m. / RTL) in Cologne, the next friendly opponent of the German team, applauded the deserved 1-0 with a header from Lukaku (35th).
When the veteran scored his 70th international goal shortly after the break (49th) after a pass from Berlin’s Dodi Lukebakio, the former Schalke and Leipzig Bundesliga coach looked much more relaxed. Lukaku scored the final score in the final phase (82nd). The Swedes around Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg didn’t have a chance after their veteran star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had returned from a knee injury, came on 20 minutes before the end.
Tedesco had succeeded Roberto Martinez after the disappointing first round exit at the World Cup in Qatar. After the resignations of long-time leaders Eden Hazard and Toby Alderweireld, Tedesco had renounced ex-Dortmunder Axel Witsel and heralded a cautious generational change.
Marcel Sabitzer leads Austria to victory
With a double strike, Marcel Sabitzer (28th) on loan from Munich and Michael Gregoritsch from Freiburg (30th) gave Rangnick’s team a reassuring lead before the break in Pasching.
Sabitzer (51st), on loan to Manchester United, and Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner (68th) increased in the second half. The Austrians will receive Estonia on Monday (8:45 p.m. / DAZN). The German coaching duel will take place in Group F on June 17 in Belgium.