The three Werder players in Austria’s squad had reason to be cheerful on Saturday evening. Their nation won 2-1 against Romania in their first qualifier for next year’s World Cup. Romano Schmid started the game in Vienna, while Marco Friedl and Marco Grüll didn’t come off the bench.
Austria’s first World Cup qualification fixture ahead of next year’s tournament in Mexico, Canada and the USA was in Vienna against Romania. Freiburg’s Michael Gregoritsch put them 1-0 up just before the break (42’). Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer added a second with an hour played and Florin Tanase’s late goal was ultimately nothing more than a consolation in the end (90’+5).
Romano Schmid played 82 minutes at a sold-out Ernst-Happel-Stadion, though neither Friedl or Grüll came on. Friedl will be hoping Tuesday’s fixture in San Marino (20:45 CEST) will see him win his first cap in three years. Austria’s following fixtures are in September against Cyprus and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
