Dragovic hopes for a better EM performance than 2016
A special opponent is waiting for Aleksandar Dragovic in the first European Championship match of the Austrian national soccer team on Sunday in Bucharest. North Macedonia's top star Goran Pandev is 36 years old, but still in good shape. In the past Serie A season, the goalgetter managed to score seven goals and three assists for Genoa CFC. “He's a world-class striker,” said Dragovic about Pandev in Seefeld on Wednesday.
Despite his advanced age as a footballer, the North Macedonian captain still has outstanding skills, according to the ÖFB central defender. “He is extremely dangerous and always good for a goal, even if he is no longer the fastest. But he has a nose for it.”
However, one should not make the mistake of reducing the North Macedonian team to 119 times the international (37 hits). “There is no point in focusing on one player. North Macedonia has a lot of good players,” emphasized Dragovic, referring to Eljif Elmas from SSC Napoli.
Therefore, one should be warned about the supposed underdog. “We go into the game to win, but we don't need to spit out loud and not say we win with one leg. We have to deliver 100 percent, otherwise it will be difficult,” explained Dragovic.
The two duels in the most recent European Championship qualification ended with Austrian victories. “We know their weaknesses and we know how to play them,” said Dragovic. “They usually build with a three-man chain, because of their offensive style of play there are gaps at the back. We have to switch quickly after winning the ball, then there are spaces behind the chain.”
But even the Austrian defense is not always firm, as was evident on Sunday in the 0-0 draw against Slovakia. “We are all human, mistakes are part of it,” said Dragovic, who was spared against the Slovaks, and urged prudence. “We don't need to drive ourselves crazy or apply too much pressure, we just have to believe in ourselves. Everyone has to play away from the liver, of course with a certain security.”
Should the Austrian defense be played out, goalie Daniel Bachmann still has to be overcome. “He's brutally strong on the line. He's also doing very well conducting,” said Dragovic about the new ÖFB A-1 keeper.
They are also well positioned in attack, regardless of whether Sasa Kalajdzic or Marko Arnautovic is at the forefront. “Everyone has their qualities, both are dangerous.” A cohesive team effort is crucial anyway. “If we only have eleven egoists on the field, we won't get very far. The key is that the team harmonizes well and everyone is there for each other,” said Dragovic.
For the 30-year-old, the EM was unlucky five years ago in France with the exclusion against Hungary and the awarded penalty against Iceland. “Yesterday was yesterday, today is today. Maybe after the qualification we believed we were the kings. But we are not talking about 2016, we are focusing entirely on North Macedonia,” said the future Red Star Belgrade professional.
You will probably not see a penalty taker Dragovic at the upcoming EM. “I'm definitely way down the list,” said the defender with a smile. David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer or Arnautovic are the first contenders for the execution of a possible penalty kick.
Dragovic and his colleagues completed two training sessions in Seefeld on Wednesday, where, according to the Viennese, there are perfect conditions. They arrived on Tuesday after a “regeneration day” with the family. This free time poses a certain risk in Corona times. “There was a brief risk with the day off, but everyone was careful,” emphasized Dragovic. “If someone gets Corona, it is the greatest punishment for them because they cannot be at the European Championships.”
