Euro 2020 returns in action this Sunday with Austria looking to claim their first ever win in the European Championships when they lock horns with the tournament debutants North Macedonia in the Group C opener at National Arena Bucharest with kickoff at 19:00.
Austria will be appearing in their third ever European Championship this summer having co-hosted in 2008 with Switzerland and they managed to advance from the qualifiers in 2016. However, they were eliminated in group stage in both occasions as they lost two and drew one of their three matches hence failing and are yet to win in any match in this major tournament.
North Macedonia on the other hand will be participating in their first ever European Championship and they are the lowest ranked side in the tournament as well as the underdogs in Group C.
Austria will head into the match off the back of two defeats and a draw in their last three international fixtures including 4-0 loss to Denmark, 1-0 defeat to England and a 0-0 draw to Slovakia. Therefore, they will need to step up in the Sunday’s clash keeping in mind that this might be their most realistic chance to claim the three points in Group C.
Meanwhile North Macedonia being the underdogs in their group will want to pull up a few upsets this summer. They head into the match off the back of three wins and a draw in their last four international fixtures including the 1-2 stun against Germany in world cup qualifiers earlier this year and will be determined to do the same in their Euro 2020 opener.
Austria vs North Macedonia head to head
Austria and North Macedonia have met twice in the Euro 2020 qualifiers with the home team winning in both occasions with a +4 goal difference. Take a look;
- Austria 2-1 North Macedonia Nov 16, 2019
- North Macedonia 1-4 Austria Jun 10, 2019
Home
- Austria 0-0 Slovakia
- England 1-0 Austria
- Austria 0-4 Denmark
- Austria 3-1 Faroe Islands
- Scotland 2-2 Austria
Away
- North Macedonia 4-0 Kazakhstan
- North Macedonia 1-1 Slovenia
- Germany 1-2 North Macedonia
- North Macedonia 5-0 Lie
- Romania 3-2 North Macedonia
Austria team news
The hosts have no concerns of major injuries although Konrad Laimer and Julian Baumgartlinger are carrying some minor injuries and might not feature in this match.
North Macedonia team news
The visitors will play without the services of Ilija Nestorovski who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and has been ruled out of the tournament.
Prediction and odds
- Double chance
- Draw
- Goals over 2.5
