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Austria looking for goals vs. North Macedonia at Euro 2020

Posted June 12, 2021 7:00 am

By KAREL JANICEK

A Euro 2020 video mapping is projected on the facade of the communist era built Palace of Parliament, formerly known as the House of the People, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 11, 2021, two days before the city hosts its first game between Austria and North Macedonia. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) The Associated Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Although scoring goals has been a major issue for Austria at previous European Championships, scoring goals against North Macedonia has been a non-issue in recent years.

The Austrians will open play at Euro 2020 in Group C against North Macedonia on Sunday in Bucharest. The two teams met twice in qualifying for the tournament, with Austria winning 4-1 and 2-1.

But goals haven't come easy on the big stage. In six games played in the 2008 and 2016 editions of the continental tournament, the Austrian team managed only a single goal in open play - in a 2-1 loss to Iceland five years ago.

Heading into Euro 2020, Austria lost to England 1-0 on June 2 and was held to a scoreless draw by Slovakia last Sunday.

Austria defender David Alaba, perhaps the team's best known player, tried to take something positive from the last warm-up game, but the lack of goals was on his mind.

'œAll in all, it was OK,'ť Alaba, who has moved to Real Madrid after 13 successful seasons with Bayern Munich, told Austrian broadcaster ORF. 'œWe created a lot of chances, but unfortunately we didn't convert them.'ť

Besides Alaba, Marko ArnautoviÄ‡ will be expected to provide leadership and goals over the next few weeks.

The 32-year-old striker, who is reportedly on the way back to West Ham after a lucrative stint in China, has scored 26 goals in 87 appearances for the national team.

ArnautoviÄ‡ scored two of those four goals against North Macedonia in June 2019 in the qualifying match. Alaba, a defender at club level who usually plays as a midfielder for Austria, scored in the 2-1 victory a few months later.

North Macedonia, meanwhile, will be making its debut at a major tournament after qualifying through the Nations League playoffs. But it has had success scoring some goals and pulling off some upsets.

The biggest upset came in March when the team beat Germany 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier.

Earlier this month, North Macedonia drew 1-1 with Slovenia on June 1, with a goal conceded deep into injury time, and routed Kazakhstan 4-0 three days later.

North Macedonia's biggest scoring threat will be Goran Pandev, who made his debut for the national team 20 years ago. The 37-year-old Pandev has scored a national team record 37 goals, including the one that secured a place at Euro 2020.

The Netherlands and Ukraine are also in Group C, giving both teams chances to score more goals as the tournament progresses.

'œWe may be (considered) outsiders at this championship, but we are not bothered by that role," North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski said Saturday. "On the contrary, it brings additional motivation to all of us.'ť

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Austria's midfield player David Alaba during the international friendly soccer match between Austria and Slovakia in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 filer, North Macedonia's Goran Pandev, left, and Georgia's Jaba Kankava challenge for the ball during the Euro 2020 Qualification soccer match between Georgia and North Macedonia at Boris Paichadze Erovnuli stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov, File) The Associated Press

North Macedonia's Ferhan Hasani, right, laughs during a training session at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, June 12, 2021, the day before their first match against Austria. (Mihai Barbu, Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Heavy rain falls before Austria's training session at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, June 12, 2021, the day before their first match against North Macedonia. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) The Associated Press

North Macedonia players warm up during a training session at the Steaua stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, June 12, 2021, the day before their first match against Austria. (Mihai Barbu, Pool via AP) The Associated Press

North Macedonia's goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, right, catches the ball during a training session at the Steaua stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, June 12, 2021, the day before their first match against Austria. (Mihai Barbu, Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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