Saša Kalajdžić to make a big splash for Austria
Group C's fixtures get underway on late Sunday afternoon, with central European nation Austria taking on major tournament debutants North Macedonia in the opening game of the pool. Das Team must put their struggles to score in matches thus far in 2021 behind them for the rescheduled Euros, but cannot take their opponents lightly. Risovi have arguably had much better preparation for kick-off, and whilst Germany's trials and tribulations are well known, to go and beat them away from home in a competitive encounter is both remarkable and exceedingly rare. What they don't have however is an emerging talent on the world stage, and rangy striker Saša Kalajdžić could explode into life. Read our preview here:
Alaba role
Austria will look to control possession, playing out from the back in a reasonably slow, methodical way, and then use the technically capable midfielders to bypass the defensive lines North Macedonia will attempt to implement when defending their own third. The versatile figure of David Alaba, now a Real Madrid player, typically has a different role at international level than he does for his club(s), and is utilised more readily as a wing-back or very attack-minded full-back, depending on which system head coach Franco Foda will deploy from the outset. Both he and Stefan Lainer on the opposite flank will be relied upon to get accurate balls into the area for the likes of Kalajdžić and the runners from midfield, who will press high whenever possible. Like many of his compatriots, roaming playmaker Marcel Sabitzer plays in the German Bundesliga, and the quality of the division could be a difference maker psychologically in tense situations.
Goran, my son!
At long last, 37 year old captain Goran Pandev, arguably North Macedonia's greatest player in their current form, tastes the biggest stage in UEFA. He will lead the line for Igor Angelovski's underdogs in a 5-3-2, but there won't be an emphasis on merely sitting back and soaking up any pressure their more vaunted opponents can muster. Elif Elmas will be the link man in midfield, playing triangles with the wing-backs (especially Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski on the left outside channel) for the latter to be in space to cross to Pandev and his likely partner Aleksandar Trajkovski, who will make good use of his versatility by dropping off the forward line to find pockets to work passes from and get shots away. Their quick attacks could unsettle the Austrian backline on Sunday, and will be a sterner test than many outside pundits are currently prognosticating.
Franco un-Austrian
Foda is deeply unpopular in Vienna and other major cities in Austria, with many fans frustrated at the conservatism in his tactical approaches to games. He cannot afford to be the same here, and both sides will probably view the match as their best chance of victory and with it, a decent possibility of at least securing passage to the last 16 by being one of the better ranked third place outfits. He will be banking on Kalajdžić making viewers sit up and take notice, and he might need to, given North Macedonia's propensity to score in matches they're not favoured to win. Casumo have odds of 2.50 for Stuttgart target man to score anytime in the 90.
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