Croatia 0-3 Austria: Ralf Rangnick’s reign begins with dominant victory
Croatia 0-3 Austria: Ralf Rangnick’s reign begins with dominant victory
Austria missed out on World Cup qualification at the play-off stage but they began their Nations League campaign in fine style
Ralf Rangnick’s reign as Austria manager began with a hugely impressive Nations League win in Croatia.
Rangnick endured a difficult period as Manchester United’s interim boss last season, missing out on Champions League qualification.
But he started his Austria tenure in superb style, thumping the 2018 World Cup finalists.
Goals from Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer earned a comfortable win.
Former West Ham forward Arnautovic, now at Bolgona in Serie A, scored the first goal of the Rangnick era with a fine 20-yard strike four minutes before the break.
Gregoritsch lashed in a first-time effort from 12 yards shortly after half-time and Sabitzer added a wonderful third from 25 yards three minutes later.
Croatia brought on Luka Modric, who won the Champions League with Real Madrid last week, but by that stage it was too little, too late.
It was the ideal start for Rangnick, who announced last Sunday that his plans to stay on as a consultant at Old Trafford would be scrapped so he could focus on the Austria job.
He has the task of taking them forward following their failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup – they were beaten by Wales in a play-off semi-final.
And his first match could hardly have gone any better.
The 63-year-old has had a long and varied career, managing 11 different club sides, but this is his first shot at international management.
In the other game in Group A1, Nations League holders France were beaten 2-1 by Denmark.
Line-ups
Croatia
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Ivusic
22Juranovic5Caleta-Car6Pongracic19Sosa
11Brozovic8Kovacic
4Majer15Pasalic7Brekalo
9Kramaric
23Ivusic
22Juranovic
5Caleta-CarBooked at 74mins
6Pongracic
19SosaSubstituted forBarisicat 45′minutes
11Brozovic
8KovacicSubstituted forOrsicat 71′minutes
4MajerSubstituted forModricat 58′minutes
15PasalicSubstituted forVlasicat 58′minutes
7Brekalo
9KramaricSubstituted forBudimirat 58′minutes
Substitutes
1Livakovic
2Vrsaljko
3Barisic
10Modric
12Labrovic
13Vlasic
14Ivanusec
16Jakic
17Budimir
18Orsic
20Erlic
21Vida
Austria
Formation 3-1-4-2
1Lindner
3Danso2Trauner15Wöber
9Sabitzer
21Lainer20Laimer23Schlager10Weimann
7Arnautovic18Onisiwo
1Lindner
3Danso
2Trauner
15WöberSubstituted forFriedlat 77′minutes
9Sabitzer
21LainerSubstituted forTrimmelat 45′minutes
20Laimer
23SchlagerBooked at 30mins
10WeimannSubstituted forBaumgartnerat 72′minutes
7ArnautovicSubstituted forSeiwaldat 45′minutes
18OnisiwoSubstituted forGregoritschat 45′minutes
Substitutes
4Friedl
5Posch
6Seiwald
8Ljubicic
11Gregoritsch
12Fraisl
13Pentz
14Kalajdzic
16Trimmel
17Wolf
19Baumgartner
22Lazaro
Live Text
Match ends, Croatia 0, Austria 3.
Second Half ends, Croatia 0, Austria 3.
Josip Brekalo (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Marco Friedl (Austria).
Attempt missed. Ante Budimir (Croatia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josip Juranovic with a cross.
Attempt saved. Marco Friedl (Austria) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcel Sabitzer.
Foul by Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia).
Christoph Baumgartner (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nikola Vlasic (Croatia).
Kevin Danso (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ante Budimir (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Christoph Baumgartner (Austria).
Attempt saved. Xaver Schlager (Austria) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Michael Gregoritsch.
Offside, Austria. Konrad Laimer tries a through ball, but Michael Gregoritsch is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Marcel Sabitzer (Austria) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the centre of the goal.
Borna Barisic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Konrad Laimer (Austria).
Substitution, Austria. Marco Friedl replaces Maximilian Wöber.
Foul by Nikola Vlasic (Croatia).
Michael Gregoritsch (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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