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It doesn’t happen too often that Alessandro Schöpf scores for the Austrian soccer team. The Tyrolean has only five international goals, which are almost always of great importance to the ÖFB team, including a 1-0 Nations League victory in Ploiesti on Wednesday against Romania. Schöpf’s deep low shot in the far corner opened the door to group victory and thus promotion to league A.
Even before that, the 26-year-old presented himself as a man of major and sometimes even historical successes. His goal for the final score 2-1 on June 2, 2018 in Klagenfurt against Germany marked the first victory over the great neighbor in 32 years. Three days earlier, the offensive man had fired at the ÖFB team for a 1-0 victory over the Russia World Cup quarter-finals.
Schöpf also scored the 1: 1 intermission in the bitter 1: 2 in the EURO 2016 match against Iceland in St. Denis, making him the only Austrian, besides Ivica Vastic, to have scored in an MS.
- Image gallery: The ÖFB team celebrated their 1-0 away win:
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Photo gallery: ÖFB team celebrated 1-0 away win against Romania
Image: (AFP)
“The victory was deserved”
But Schöpf did not look back at Ploiesti. The satisfaction of having played a decisive role in a major success prevailed. “I am happy for the team,” said the 24-time international. “The victory was deserved for the second part.”
Before the break, things didn’t go as expected, admitted Schöpf, who last suffered at Schalke. “The first half was not so good on our part. We did not have much access, the system with the start did not fit so well with our opponents, so we did not get into the duels.”
A change in the break helped. “The coach changed at half-time that we would start with three players in front, then things got a lot better,” Schöpf said.
Captain Julian Baumgartlinger also highlighted the realignment, which also included a change from a chain from four to three. “We made a very good adaptation in the second half and then we had much more access. After the advantage, we didn’t let anything go wrong. Now it’s a great quality for us to be able to change the game in the second half. To be able to react in the middle. on the way and get better, ”said the Salzburg native.
“Our weakest game”
Despite the successfully defended leadership in the League of Nations group, Baumgartlinger was self-critical. “That was the weakest of the four Nations League games,” the 32-year-old said. “That we win anyway and that we continue to watch from the top of the group is important and enjoyable.”
Martin Hinteregger also made a very positive summary. “We deservedly left the field as winners,” said the central defender. However, there is enough potential for improvement. “We are always good on defense, but we can only play one half at the moment.”
Hinteregger was replaced by team principal Franco Foda in the 53rd minute because he was in danger of being excluded. “I did not know that the referee had already threatened me with red. He did not tell me that, but the fourth official told the coach,” Carinthian reported.
