Austria vs North Macedonia: Underdogs need to start with a win

Group C: Austria vs North Macedonia, kick-off 5pm (UK time, ITV)

Group C’s two underdogs go head-to-head at Romania’s National Arena this evening knowing a winning start is vital to their qualification hopes.

Austria have entered the European Championship twice before but are yet to progress past the group stage, while this is North Macedonia's first appearance at a major tournament.

With daunting clashes against the Netherlands and Ukraine on the horizon, both teams will be going all out for victory in Bucharest.

Don’t underestimate the minnows

North Macedonia might not be in with much of a chance of winning Euro 2020 but they are still to be taken seriously.

For evidence of this, look no further than their shock win against Germany back in March.

Star men Goran Pandev and Elif Elmas got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Die Mannschaft in Duisburg after a resolute defensive display. 

They are also not short of attacking zest at times, as highlighted by a 5-0 win over Liechtenstein and 4-0 triumph against Kazakhstan in the past four months.

Recent history

It has been a largely successful period on the pitch since the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was renamed North Macedonia in February 2019.

They have won 11 of their 23 games since that point, drawing six times and losing a further six matches.

But two of those six defeats have come against the Austrians.

The teams met in qualifying for Euro 2020, with Franco Foda’s side hammering the Macedonians 4-1 in Skopje before securing a more modest 2-1 victory on home soil.

Experience is key

The midfield battle between 21-year-old Elmas and Austrian ace Marcel Sabitzer could be key to both teams.

Elmas is one of Serie A’s most proficient passers, with a passing accuracy of 90.78%, but he cannot match the end product of RB Leipzig star Sabitzer — he contributed eight Bundesliga goals and three assists in 2020-21.

Fellow RBL and Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer spoke of his team-mate’s winning mentality in an interview earlier this year.

He said: "Sabi is there when it matters. And he does an awful lot to make the team perform to its best ability."

Austria have the tactical edge

North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski typically opts to use a 5-3-2 system with roaming wing-backs, usually picking Ezgjan Alioski and Boban Nikolov as the men on the flanks.

They will face a tough time penetrating against Austria, whose use of 4-2-3-1 makes them a particularly difficult side to break down.

Julian Baumgartlinger, Stefan Ilsanker and Sabitzer can dominate the middle, leaving David Alaba plenty of creative freedom on the left side to push through and deliver crosses.

The idea will be to get the ball to Sasa Kalajdzic, the Stuttgart striker who stands at 6ft 7in and averaged 0.67 goals per 90 minutes in the league in 2020-21.

But coach Foda is expecting a counter-attacking threat from the Macedonians.

Speaking last week, he said: "That's why we have to be more clinical while ensuring our defence is secure.

"We have to minimise mistakes, develop and utilise as many chances as possible against a compact team like North Macedonia."

Alioski to step up

If North Macedonia are to come away with a result in this evening’s clash, they will need Leeds man Alioski to be at his best.

The attacking left-back is a marauding presence on the wing but is equally capable defensively — his 2.7 total tackles per 90 in the Premier League in 2020-21 put him inside the division’s top 25 players.

In a squad lacking elite quality across the backline, his performances will be key to any hopes of pulling off making it to the knockout phase.