Advertisement

Austria vs North Macedonia, Euro 2020: Kick-off time TV channel details, prediction and team news

Austria vs North Macedonia Euro 2021 what time kick-off odds tv channel 2020 team news how watch live - GETTY IMAGES
Austria vs North Macedonia Euro 2021 what time kick-off odds tv channel 2020 team news how watch live - GETTY IMAGES

Austria begin their Euro 2020 campaign aiming to finally break their duck at the European Championship. In their six previous matches, they have failed to get a win and scored just once from open play.

The goalscoring responsibility will fall on Marko Arnautovic and Sasa Kalajdzic with recent Real Madrid signing David Alaba providing the inspiration.

North Macedonia are making their first appearance at a major tournament but are determined not to be the whipping boys.

What time does Austria vs North Macedonia kick off?

The match takes place today at National Arena in Bucharest, Romania. Austria vs North Macedonia will kick off at 5pm.

What TV channel is it on today - can I watch it live?

This game will be broadcast on ITV, so you can watch on freeview or ITV Hub's livestream. The TV rights for the tournament are shared by BBC and ITV.

Read more: Full Euro 2021 fixtures list

Latest Euros team news

Austria

Coach Franco Foda has reassured supporters his team will be ready for their Euro 2021 opener against North Macedonia after a disappointing 0-0 home draw with Slovakia in their final warm-up match on Sunday.

The result means Austria have won one of their last six games - a 3-1 win over Faroe Islands in March - and have not scored for over 300 minutes, leaving fans unconvinced of their chances in Group C where they also face Netherlands and Ukraine.

Austria, who finished bottom of their group at Euro 2016, meet North Macedonia in Bucharest on Sunday – enough time to be properly prepared and raring to go, according to Foda.

"Our mood will rise day by day and we will be ready for the duel with North Macedonia, I am convinced of that," he told reporters.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia's president has been left red-faced after giving the Pope the 'wrong' shirt after the football federation switched back to their old colours for the upcoming European Championship due to fans' negative reactions.

The President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, 58, gave Pope Francis a shirt of the new Euro kit during a meeting on 27th May.

Pendarovski told the Pope: "This is the shirt which will be worn by our best football players at the upcoming Euro 2021. We need your prayers to help us win the European Championship."

However the Pope's prayers might not prove all that effective as he was apparently given the wrong shirt.

What have we said about Euro 2021?

David Alaba is a wonderfully versatile player, comfortable at left-back, centre-half, central midfield and even, as Foda has used him, as left-sided playmaker. Leaving Bayern Munich after 13 seasons in Bavaria on a free, the 28-year-old is understood to have signed for spendthrift Real Madrid but he would be one player worth his wages there.

North Macedonia are happy to concede possession against the bigger teams, and well suited for hitting on the break due to dangerous attacking full-backs Ezgjan Alioski, of Leeds, on the left and Stefan Ristovski, on the right. They favour a 3-4-1-2 with Eljif Elmas (behind the front two) given licence to drift out to the left and overload with Alioski.

Austria vs North Macedonia odds

  • Austria - 1/2

  • North Macedonia - 16/5

  • Draw - 11/2

View the latest Euro 2021 betting offers.

What is our prediction?

Austria 1 North Macedonia 0

Read more: Euros 2020 predictions for 2021 games