All three of Werder’s Austria internationals shared the field during their 4-0 win away in San Marino on Tuesday, 10.06.25. Romano Schmid and Marco Grüll both featured, while the Green-Whites’ club captain Marco Friedl made the starting line-up as he received a first appearance in his nation’s colours for three years.
Head coach Ralf Rangnick’s Austria side secured their second win in World Cup qualifying. After beating Romania 2-1, recorded a mandatory victory in San Marino by a commanding 4-0 score line, with SVW captain Marco Friedl starting as he celebrated his national team comeback after exactly three years away. His last appearance saw him feature from the off in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Denmark in the 2022 UEFA Nations League. “I’m very happy to have been back out on that pitch for 90 minutes,” reported the 27-year-old. His Werder teammates Romano Schmid and Marco Grüll entered the fray during the second period, on 46 and 63 minutes respectively.
Marko Arnautovic’s brace (3’,15’) and a goal from Michael Gregoritsch (11’) put Austria on course for victory with just a quarter of an hour played. Christoph Baumgartner made it 4-0 after 27 minutes, which was how the match remained despite a plethora of further scoring opportunities. The result and the game took a back seat, however, in light of the reports of tragic events in Graz. “The events in Austria naturally overshadow the sport on this dark day,” Friedl commented.
After two wins from two World Cup qualifying fixtures, Austria sit second in Group H. The next international break takes place in September, when they will face Cyprus (6th) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (9th). “I’m delighted to have rounded off the season in positive fashion. I am now heading off on holiday so that I can go at next season with full force,” explained Werder defender Friedl.
