The Austrian media have delivered their verdict on the performance of Leeds United defender Max Wober in their EURO 2024 opener with France.
Wober, who faces an uncertain future at Leeds, headed in the only goal of the night in Germany, but unfortunately for him, it was into his own goal in a 1-0 defeat.
The 26-year-old was Leeds‘ first representative at this summer’s tournament after both Liam Cooper (Scotland) and Rasmus Kristensen (Denmark) were unused subs in their respective openers.
Amid the doubt surrounding his club future, Wober could not really have asked for a worse night individually as he hardly put himself into the shop window.
It is said that nothing can be ruled out regarding a potential return to Elland Road after Brenden Aaronson’s decision last week, but clubs certainly won’t be queuing up for him on Monday night’s evidence.
Austrian media deliver verdict on Wober display vs France
Wober had even instructed his agent pre-tournament not to speak to him at all about his club future, but that is a tactic that clearly did not work.
He had actually enjoyed a good season at Borussia Monchengladbach, but as it stands, they are currently unable to meet Leeds’ asking price for a permanent deal.
There had been reports earlier on yesterday that Leeds had taken steps to reduce that fee, and they may have to once again based on his display at the EUROs.
Not only did he score an own goal, but he was booked early on for a rash challenge on Ousmane Dembele and can perhaps consider himself a little fortunate not to have been sent off after pushing Antoine Griezmann into the advertising hoardings while on a booking.
He also played his side into trouble with a poorly weighted pass into midfield in the first half before eventually being hooked before the hour mark.
Despite all that, though, the Salzburger Nachrichten’s post-match player ratings piece labelled his overall display as ‘solid’ and simply put his own goal down to bad luck.
They wrote: “The fact that he received a yellow card early on later became a risk. But a solid performance from the ex-Bull, who was unlucky with his own goal with his head. Average.”
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Roy Keane and Ian Wright disagree with that rating
Roy Keane and Ian Wright were on punditry duty alongside Gary Neville for the game and they certainly weren’t as forgiving regarding his own goal.
All three of them put it down to ‘poor defending’ as opposed to bad luck, and it certainly feels as though the Austrian press have been a little generous with that description.
Keane said: “I just think he’s sprinting, he needs to slow down a little bit. It’s a decent ball into the box but I think that’s really poor defending.
“Everyone will say it’s a bit unlucky with the pace of the ball, but he’s just got to slow down and get his body position right. When you head it at that angle there is a good chance it goes into your own net. Really poor defending.”
Wright then added: “The defender is not looking at the ball. If the balls coming across goal you’ve got to look at it. When you look at it, he’s not looking at the ball. He doesn’t know where it’s going to go. It’s crazy.”
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