In a surprising turn of events, Austria secured a convincing 2-0 victory against Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany in a recent international friendly. Bundesliga stars Marcel Sabitzer and Christoph Baumgartner found the net, propelling Austria to a well-deserved win. This result comes on the heels of Germany’s 3-2 defeat to Turkey, marking their second consecutive loss under Nagelsmann’s tenure as head coach.
First Half Action:
The match, held in Vienna, saw Germany struggling to find their footing during much of the first half. RB Leipzig’s Baumgartner initiated the attacking efforts, narrowly missing a deflected shot wide. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp thwarted Freiburg striker Michael Gregoritsch in a promising one-on-one, showcasing his goalkeeping prowess. Austria’s bright start culminated in a goal just before the half-hour mark when Borussia Dortmund’s Sabitzer finished a quick counter with precision, leaving Trapp with no chance.
Germany’s Woes Deepen in the Second Half:
The second half presented an even greater challenge for Germany as Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sané received a straight red card in the 49th minute following an altercation with Austria’s Phillipp Mwene. This setback left Germany with ten men, and their task became considerably more difficult. Substitute Benjamin Henrichs had a rare moment of promise with a free-kick that went wide, but Austria continued to dominate.
Baumgartner added to Austria’s lead in the 73rd minute, calmly slotting in a goal after a well-executed hold-up play by Gregoritsch. Despite efforts from German substitutes Florian Wirtz and Marvin Ducksch, Austria remained resolute, securing the victory. Trapp’s late save from substitute Matthias Seidl denied Austria the opportunity to extend their lead further.
Key Match Stats:
- Germany has faced Austria 10 times, losing their last two matches after winning their first eight.
- Nagelsmann’s record as the national team boss includes one win (3-1 vs. USA), one draw (2-2 vs. Mexico), and two defeats.
- Sané received his first-ever red card in his senior career.
- All 10 outfield starters for Austria play or have played in the Bundesliga.
- Ralf Rangnick, Austria’s coach, has a rich coaching history in German football, having managed clubs like Ulm, VfB Stuttgart, Hannover, Schalke, Hoffenheim, and Leipzig.
- Bayer Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich made his debut for Germany in this match.
Team Lineups:
Austria (Coach: Ralf Rangnick):
- A. Schlager – Posch, Lienhart, Alaba (c) (Danso 90′), Mwene (Wöber 69′) – Seiwald, Laimer (Entrup 90′), X. Schlager, Sabitzer (Seidl 90′) – Baumgartner (Schmid 81′) – Gregoritsch (Kalajdzic 81′)
Germany (Coach: Julian Nagelsmann):
- Trapp – Tah, Hummels, Rüdiger, Havertz (Ducksch 77′) – Gündoğan (c) (Andrich 61′), Goretzka (Kimmich 61′) – Gnabry (Wirtz 61′), Brandt (Henrichs 53′) – Sané, Füllkrug (Müller 46′)
Conclusion:
Austria’s impressive 2-0 victory against Germany serves as a testament to their cohesive performance and clinical finishing. The friendly highlighted Germany’s struggles, particularly with the early red card for Sané. Nagelsmann will undoubtedly analyze this match to address areas of concern as Germany looks ahead to future challenges. The Bundesliga-heavy Austria team, led by Ralf Rangnick, showcased their depth and skill, leaving a lasting impression on the international football stage.
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By- Sahiba Suri