Crossword Genius

Al leaves one country for another (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

austria

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'al' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for austria that I've seen before include "USA art I send to European state" , "Original setting for Mozart" , "European nation" , "Under the Hapsburgs, it controlled the Holy Roman Empire" , "One state" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent and The Sun.
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