The Dutch national team does not have to fear Marko Arnautovic in the game against Austria tonight (9 p.m.). The attacker has been banned for a match by UEFA for his behavior after his goal against North Macedonia (3-1 win). Alex Pastoor, trainer of the Austrian SC Rheindorf Altach until March this year, thinks that the absence of Arnautovic is a great loss for Austria.
Arnautovic is said to have insulted opponent Ezgjan Alioski, while he was also accused of being racist. The players of North Macedonia have not confirmed this. Arnautovic was born and raised in Vienna, but his family is from Serbia, where many of his relatives still live. He himself once said: “There is a Serb in me”. His alleged insults after the goal were probably aimed specifically at Alioski, who plays for Leeds United and is of Albanian descent. Both players are said to have become involved in a verbal battle with each other during the match. After the match, images showed how Arnautovic and Alioski were standing on the field in peace, talking.
“There is always something going on with that boy. You sometimes get the idea that he thinks he’s a kind of spare Jesus,” Pastoor says in conversation with The Telegraph. The Dutch trainer thinks that Austria will miss Arnautovic in the duel with the the Dutch. “Something always happens when Arnautovic comes in. He can do something that no one else can do in that selection and that is to force something in the individual class.” Former teammate Jeroen Heubach was not surprised by the action of Arnautovic. “This hassle is again characteristic of Marko. But on the other hand, he has a lot of value for the team. He has a good individual action and has built up a great career. Though I think he could have gotten more out of it. He actually had the talent to reach the absolute top.”
Frank de Boer, the national coach of the Dutch, reacted on Wednesday to the suspension of Arnautovic. “I am sorry and it is a shame for Austria, because he is a very good player. Of course we know him from his FC Twente period. It will be a loss for Austria. In that respect it is an advantage for us. came in and immediately showed the difference. Sad for Austria.” On Tuesday, Nathan Aké and Patrick van Aanholt already warned about the attacker. “You have to be prepared for him,” said Van Aanholt. “He is a really good and above all dangerous player.” Aké called Arnautovic ‘a difficult player’. “He’s very dynamic, has good technique and scores a lot. He’s a nightmare to play against, I really mean that.”
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