Lazaro makes EURO debut as Austria lose second group game

The Austria national team lost their second group game 2-0 to the Netherlands in Amsterdam. For Stefan Lainer, Valentino Lazaro and Co. the final group game against the Ukraine will be a showdown for second place and a guaranteed place in the knockout stages.

With Broussia’s Stefan Lainer in the starting XI, Austria were beaten 2-0 in their second group game of the UEFA EURO 2020 tournament by Netherlands, who confirmed top spot in the process. Valentino Lazaro, who is set to return to Inter after the tournament, started on the bench and watched along with 15,000 spectators in Amsterdam’s Johan-Cruyff-Arena as Franco Foda’s Austria side put in a mostly solid display at the back as they struggled to create anything from their attacking efforts.

A David Alaba foul on Denzel Dumfries in the tenth minute saw Netherlands take the lead from the resulting penalty, which was tucked away confidently by Memphis Depay. 'Oranje' then took control of the game and eventually doubled their lead in the 67th minute through Dumfries. Lazaro was brought on moments later in the 70th for his first European championship appearance. Austria’s captain David Alaba was not too disappointed in his team’s performance: "Even after going 1-0 down we didn’t let them unsettle us. We knew we wouldn’t be able to keep them out altogether, but we played with courage," said the 28-year-old.  

While Netherlands managed to book their place in the last 16 as group winners with their second win in two, Lainer and Lazaro will be looking for an all-important result against the Ukraine on Monday evening in Bucharest, in a Group C showdown for second place. "We are going to Bucharest to win," stressed Alaba. Ukraine beat North Macedonia 2-1 earlier on Thursday and are ahead of Austria on goal difference (both with 3 points). North Macedonia, whose final game will be against the Netherlands (also Monday at 18:00 CEST), now have no chance of moving off bottom in the group.

Borussia’s Ramy Bensebaini was not in the squad for Algeria’s final friendly of the season, which they won 5-1 against Liberia.