Euro 2020: Austria 3-1 North Macedonia - reaction

1. Austria win Euros match for first time
2. Tournament debutants North Macedonia impress but overpowered late on
3. Lainer volley puts Austria in front, Pandev equalises
4. Gregoritsch restores Austria's lead late on, Arnautovic adds third
5. First game of Group C before Netherlands v Ukraine later
6. Get involved: #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

Rob Green

Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

This is the footballing fiesta we have come for!...

EPA

'We've been waiting for this since independence'

North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski: "We are very excited to be on the big stage for the first time, as we’ve been waiting for this moment since we became an independent nation.

"Our fans will finally be able to root for their own country on the big stage instead of perennially having to pick someone else. We will fight tooth and nail to delight them, as they've had to dig deep into their slim budgets to be here."

This game is only the second of Euro 2020 with neither team at home.

It's at the National Arena in Bucharest. The pitch was waterlogged a couple of days ago - with players unable to train on it - but I'm sure it's grand now.

The players are out for the national anthems now.

Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live

Did I mention this game was on BBC Radio 5 Live? I don't think I did mention it was on BBC Radio 5 Live actually. Well the game is on BBC Radio 5 Live. Full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Austria have yet to win a game at the European Championship (D2 L4).

No team has played more games in the tournament - six - without winning one.

They've only scored twice.

Needless to say they've never made it out of a group.

Their last win at a major tournament was at the 1990 World Cup when they beat the USA 2-1.

'We can make history'

Austria coach Franco Foda: "I don't feel any pressure. On the contrary, I told everyone, the players, the coaches and staff that we can make history.

"That's our goal: to win our first Euro game and then we can see how things develop and what further goals we can define.

"The atmosphere is very good in the squad, there's a lot of excitement. We've had to wait a year for this because of the pandemic.

"We have set a very clear goal. The group is very evenly balanced, everything is possible. Especially in a Euro like this, anything can happen. We want to do everything we can to reach the knockouts."

How these sides qualified

Austria and North Macedonia actually met in Euro 2020 qualifying - with Austria winning both games (4-1 away, 2-1 home).

They are the sides' only meetings.

Austria went through in second place (behind Poland), finishing five points above North Macedonia.

The Macedonians qualified through the Nations League play-offs, beating Kosovo and Georgia.

'Pandev too good to never take part on biggest stage'

Getty Images

There is no doubt about the most famous Macedonian player - Goran Pandev.

The 37-year-old has scored 101 Serie A goals for teams including Lazio, Inter Milan, Napoli and current club Genoa.

He has scored 37 goals in 119 caps for his country - including the goal that booked their place at the Euros.

Coach Igor Angelovski said: "I am so happy for our captain because I told him six years ago that he is too good a player to never take part on the biggest international stage.

"I talked him out of international retirement and I am truly delighted that he will lead the team tomorrow. He deserves a bow from me and my staff, his team mates and all North Macedonian citizens."

Aged 37 years and 321 days, Goran Pandev is the fourth-oldest outfield player to start a game at the Euros after Lothar Matthaus, Morten Olsen and Ricardo Carvalho.

Reuters

It's a sea of red and yellow for North Macedonia's first ever match at a major tournament.

Getty Images

Getty Images

Getty Images

Getty Images

Other BBC pundits predict...

Karen Carney 2-0, Chris Waddle 2-0, Dion Dublin 3-0, Clinton Morrison 2-1, Chris Sutton 1-0, Rob Green 0-0, Christian Fuchs 4-0, Jermaine Jenas 1-1, Emma Saunders 1-0, Steve Crossman 1-1, John Murray 1-0, Ian Dennis 1-0, Alistair Bruce-Ball 1-0, Conor McNamara 0-1, Vicki Sparks 2-0

Just my fellow Limerickman Conor McNamara backing North Macedonia there

Lawro's prediction

Mark Lawrenson

BBC football expert

This is a great occasion for North Macedonia and I'm sure they will give everything they have got, but I can't see past an Austria win here. They are experienced and are a very steady side.

Prediction: 1-0

Who are North Macedonia?

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In case you're not familiar with the name North Macedonia, this is still the country previously called Macedonia/Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia/FYROM.

They changed their name in 2019 after a 27-year dispute with Greece, which has its own region called Macedonia.

The country was part of Yugoslavia until 1991.

Team news

Sasa Kalajdzic leads the line for Austria as they look to record their first ever win at a European Championship, as former West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic starts on the bench.

Captain David Alaba will attack from the left.

Austria XI: Bachmann, Lainer, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Ulmer, Baumgartner, Laimer, Schlager, Alaba, Sabitzer, Kalajdzic.

Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski begins on the left for tournament debutants North Macedonia, as veteran skipper Goran Pandev starts up front.

North Macedonia: Dimitrievski, Nikolov, Ristovski, Velkovski, Musliu, Alioski, Bardi, Ademi, Elmas, Pandev, Trajkovski.

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A historic day for North Macedonia as they make their debut at a major football tournament - facing Austria in Euro 2020.

Welcome to live text coverage of that one.