Austria vs North Macedonia LIVE: Euro 2020 team news, line-ups and more today
Austria take on North Macedonia as Group C begins at Euro 2020 in Bucharest, Romania.
Franco Foda is looking to guide his side to their first ever win at the competition and their first game at the tournament against the small Balkan nation presents a glorious opportunity.
“We have a very good atmosphere and we have waited for a year for this,” Foda said. “We want to win it at all cost, start the tournament on a positive foot. I feel no pressure and it told the team and the players that we can make history tomorrow and that is our aim.”
North Macedonia enter the game with two losses to the Austrians in qualification, winning 4-1 and 2-1.
David Alaba is one to watch closely, having switched from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid this summer, with the 28-year-old taking the positives from a 1-0 friendly defeat to England last time out.
“All in all, it was OK,” Alaba said. “We created a lot of chances, but unfortunately we didn’t convert them.”
Follow live updates from Austria vs North Macedonia at the conclusion of England vs Croatia.
Read more:
Austria Euro 2020 squad guide: Full fixtures, group, ones to watch, odds and more
North Macedonia Euro 2020 squad guide: Full fixtures, group, ones to watch, odds and more
Euro 2020 fantasy football: 20 players to pick in your squad this summer
Euro 2020 kits: Every home and away shirt ranked and rated
Euro 2020 schedule: All dates, fixtures and everything you need to know
Euro 2020 predictions: Winner, top scorer, one to watch and how far will England go?
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia
73’: Another chance for England, but Sterling lashes at the knocked down ball just inside the Croatia penalty area. Sterling was unmarked, and had time to compose himself, but instantly sliced across it, sending the ball up and over the goal.
John Stones has gone down with a problem.
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia
65’: A half-chance for Milan striker Ante Rebic, but he snatches at it from inside the England box. England then immediately go up the other end and win a free kick in a dangerous area after Mason Mount was hauled down from Brozovic after the Inter midfielder was dispossessed. Mount’s resulting free kick narrowly skim the roof of the net.
It appears as if Marcus Rashford could be coming on.
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia
61’: Harry Kane could’ve made it 2-0, as he got on the end of Mason Mount’s teasing cross, but Kane’s shot ballooned over the bar, and the Tottenham striker fell into the post, hurting himself in the process.
Thankfully, Kane is now up and back on his feet. That was a real chance for England to double their advantage.
GOAL! England 1-0 Croatia (Sterling, 56’) ⚽
56’: Just when we thought that Croatia were starting to exert control, England take the lead!
Their first goal of Euro 2020 goes to Raheem Sterling, who has been one of their best player. Kalvin Phillips produced a lovely bit of play down the right-hand side of the Croatia half. Phillips skipped past a couple of Croatia players, before sliding a through ball into the path of Sterling, who made the forward run into the penalty box.
Sterling’s shot goes under the goalkeeper. And England lead 1-0.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia
54’: Croatia starting to exert some control now of the game. Modric, Perisic and Brozovic all now starting to get more time on the ball, and engineering opportunities.
Modric tested Jordan Pickford from distance, but it was a comfortable save for the Everton goalkeeper. But England haven’t picked up from the very bright start to the game. Jack Grealish could make an entrance soon.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia
47’: First yellow card of the game goes to Real Madrid midfielder Kovacic, for a crunching tackle on Mason Mount in the middle of the pitch.
Thankfully Mount gets straight up again and appears to be fine.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia (second half kick-off)
46’: Second half kicks off. No changes for either side.
Will England start the second half like they did the first?
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia
Some stats from the first half:
Shots on target – 1-1
Shots off target – 2-1
Possession – 59% – 41%
England fans boo players taking a knee
A section of England supporters booed the taking of the knee ahead of the game at Wembley before being drowned out by fellow fans.
The anti-racism gesture was booed at both of England’s warm-up games at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium over the past two weeks, leading Gareth Southgate to speak out in defence of his players and even write an open letter to fans calling for the country to come together.
However some of the 22,500 supporters at Wembley did boo before they were drowned out by cheers and applause.
Watch: England fans boo team before being drowned out by cheers at Euro 2020
A number of fans booed the taking of the knee at England’s opening Euro 2020 game on Sunday afternoon before being drowned by cheers from fellow supporters.The anti-racism gesture was booed at both of England’s warm-up games at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium over the past two weeks, leading Gareth Southgate to speak out in defence of his players and even write an open letter to fans calling for the country to come together. However some of the 22,500 supporters at Wembley did boo before they were drowned out by cheers and applause.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia (Half time)
Half time at Wembley.
A very bright start by the home side. England could’ve scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, as Croatia struggled with England’s pace down both wings. Foden hit the post with a delicious curling effort, and had he scored that, the first half would’ve played out a lot differently, you suspect.
Croatia slowly gained a foothold in the game, but haven’t really threatened the England defence. Perisic had Croatia’s best chance, but the Inter winger sliced across the ball, and it went well over the bar.
Gareth Southgate will hope his side can find the tempo and rhythm they showed in the opening quarter of the game, as the longer it remains 0-0, Croatia will feel emboldened to sneak a win.
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