ÖFB Team Stands No Chance

Spain vs. Austria LIVE today at 9 p.m.

Konrad Laimer stares into space as Spain celebrates: Austria has been eliminated in the World Cup Round of 32.(Bild: AFP/PATRICK T. FALLON)

Austria’s national team was eliminated in the Round of 32 at the World Cup. On Thursday at Los Angeles Stadium, the ÖFB squad lost 0-3 to a clearly superior Spanish team on goals by Mikel Oyarzabal (36’, 89’) and Pedro Porro (66’).

While Austria’s first World Cup appearance since 1998 has come to an end, Spain won a knockout match at a World Cup for the first time since the 2010 World Cup final—and deservedly so. The Spanish had chances to score more goals, while the ÖFB team didn’t have a single clear-cut opportunity.

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ÖFB coach Ralf Rangnick stuck with the starting lineup from the 0–2 loss to Argentina, meaning Konrad Laimer at left back against Lamine Yamal, Paul Wanner as the “number 10,” and Michael Gregoritsch as the lone striker. For the Spanish team, right back Porro and playmaker Dani Olmo were new additions to the lineup compared to the 1–0 win over Uruguay. Around 3,000 Austrian fans were among the 70,492 spectators in the sold-out stadium; in the VIP box, ÖFB President Josef Pröll took a seat next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The reigning European champions fired their first warning shot exactly one minute into the game, but goalkeeper Alexander Schlager had no trouble stopping Lamine Yamal’s shot. In the early stages, the Austrians managed to keep the game somewhat open and made tentative forays into the attack, such as a cross from Marcel Sabitzer that Gregoritsch failed to connect with (18th minute).

Spain’s dominance grew increasingly overwhelming
As the match progressed, however, the Spaniards’ dominance grew. The ÖFB team was unable to keep possession for long and came under increasing pressure. In the 29th minute, Stefan Posch made a last-second clearance to deny Olmo, and the Austrians were very lucky on the ensuing corner kick. Schlager’s punch clearance went awry, and Marc Cucurella slammed the ball into the net, but Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg ruled that Pau Cubarsi had fouled Schlager and disallowed the goal.

(Bild: AP/Andre Penner)

  Regardless, Spain’s attacking flurry continued. Schlager thwarted attempts by Lamine Yamal and Oyarzabal (32nd minute) before finally being beaten four minutes later. Oyarzabal converted a cross from Cucurella with a composed low shot.

  Shortly before the end of the first half, the Spaniards missed a chance to seal the deal. A free kick by Alex Baena hit the crossbar, and when Lamine Yamal tried to pounce on the rebound from close range, goalkeeper Schlager stood in his way.

ÖFB Substitutions Did Nothing to Change the Course of the Game
Rangnick reacted to his team’s struggles at halftime by bringing on Carney Chukwuemeka and Florian Grillitsch for Xaver Schlager and Nicolas Seiwald, but the nature of the match remained unchanged. Spain dictated the match, but shots by Oyarzabal (49') and Rodri (54') came to nothing.

  After an hour, Rangnick also sent Marko Arnautovic and Sasa Kalajdzic onto the field. For Arnautovic, it was his 137th and final international match; Kalajdzic headed well over the goal in the 61st minute off a cross from Sabitzer. Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simon, would have been there to make the save, however.

  Five minutes later, Austria’s World Cup exit was sealed—Porro headed home unmarked off a cross from Baena. For long stretches, the remainder of the match resembled a practice game for Lamine Yamal and company. The Spaniards, who will face Portugal or Croatia in the Round of 16 and scored more than one goal in a World Cup knockout match for the first time since their 3-0 win over Switzerland in 1994, kept the ball moving and let their opponents run themselves ragged.

Oyarzabal sealed the final score
With the exception of a missed shot by Chukwuemeka (79'), Rangnick’s team had nothing to offer in response to their opponents’ dominance. In the 85th minute, David Alaba prevented the score from becoming 0–3 when he cleared a shot by Lamine Yamal off the line (85'). Four minutes later, however, Oyarzabal slotted home to seal the final score.

Spain – Austria 3–0 (1–0)
Los Angeles Stadium, 70,492 spectators (sold out), Referee Nyberg (SWE)

Goals: 1–0 (36') Oyarzabal
2–0 (66.) Porro
3–0 (89.) Oyarzabal

Spain: Simon – Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte (93' Pubill), Cucurella – Pedri (93' Ruiz), Rodri, Baena (71' Torres) – Yamal (85' Gavi), Oyarzabal, Olmo (71' Merino)

Austria: A. Schlager – Posch (85' Prass), Danso, Alaba, Laimer – Seiwald (46' Chukwuemeka), X. Schlager (46' Grillitsch) – Schmid (60. Kalajdzic), Wanner, Sabitzer – Gregoritsch (60. Arnautovic)

Yellow cards: none , respectively Posch