Nations League: Lainer achieves promotion with Austria

Last night’s 1-1 draw against Norway was enough for Stefan Lainer’s Austria to achieve promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League as winners of League B Group 1.

Despite a mediocre performance in their last group game, the Austria national team will take on Europe’s top teams in League A when the UEFA Nations League returns, after winning their group in League B. In the match against Norway at the Ernst-Happel-Stadium in Vienna, Norway took the lead thanks to Ghayas Zahid’s goal in the 61st minute and it wasn’t until the fourth minute of added time that the Austrians were able to come up with an equaliser through Adrian Grbic. Borussia’s right-back Stefan Lainer played the full 90 minutes. “It wasn’t our best performance. We knew beforehand that it was going to be a tough game and it turned out exactly like that. Nevertheless, we were able to reach our goal and we deserve to be group winners,” said Austria coach Franco Foda after the game.

Group 1 of League B therefore ended with Austria in first place with 13 points and a three-point lead over Norway, meaning that the Austrians not only advance in the UEFA Nations League, but can also take a back door into the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as group winners.