Austria is getting better and better under the new national coach Ralf Rangnick. The team was ahead for a long time against world champions France, but in the end it was enough for a draw.
Ex-Bundesliga coach Ralf Rangnick and the Austrian national soccer team narrowly missed out on a win against world champions France in the Nations League. In Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, both teams separated 1:1 (1:1). After the first three games under new coach Rangnick, Austria is second in Group 1 with four points, while France is only fourth with two points.
Weimann’s opening goal
In the first meeting between Austria and France in more than twelve years, Andreas Weimann scored the opening goal for the hosts in the 37th minute. The attack by the French brought at least the equalizer in the 83rd minute by superstar Kylian Mbappé.
Rangnick had to do without Hoffenheim’s Stefan Posch for the duel with the French. He had suffered a bruise and a muscular injury in the pelvic area in the previous game against Denmark. After 37 minutes it was Weimann who, after a nice combination via Marko Arnautovic and Konrad Laimer, scored the lead for the hosts.
In the second round, the guests came out of the dressing room with a lot of speed. Mbappé, who came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, equalized just before the end and even had the winning goal on his feet, but goalkeeper Patrick Pentz held on to the tie.