A shot from the edge of the penalty area, a header from a corner and a penalty gave Gregoritsch a magical evening. “To be able to score a hat-trick in the time-honored Happel Stadium – that I can experience that is amazing,” said the 29-year-old, who initially barely appeared for half, but worked a lot for the team and finally retired with three rewarded with hits.
This is the 21st time in the post-war period that an Austrian A-Team player has scored three or more goals. The triple pack record is held by Toni Polster, who scored three goals in one game for the ÖFB team three times (1989 in a 3-0 win against the GDR, 1994 in a 4-0 win against Liechtenstein and 1997 in a 3-0 win against Estonia). Hans Krankl netted six times in the 9-0 win against Malta in 1977 – that is also an Austrian record.
Gregoritsch scores three times against Turkey
The Styrian makes a historic appearance in the Happel Stadium.
Things are going well not only for the ÖFB team, but also for Gregoritsch in the same. The Styrian scored eight of his 15 goals within a year and is the top scorer in the Rangnick era. “It means a lot to me to play for the team, I say it again and again,” said the Freiburg legionnaire, who enjoyed his gala and took the ball with him.
Gregoritsch allows Baumgartner to overcome “trauma”.
Gregoritsch could have even added a fourth goal, but he left the second penalty to Baumgartner. “It was a given for me,” said Gregoritsch. Baumgartner had asked his best friend to be allowed to take the penalty. “I am extremely grateful to him for that. I know that’s not a given for a striker who has the chance to score his fourth goal,” said the Lower Austrian after the game.
GEPA/Armin Rauthner “Best Buddies”: Gregoritsch selflessly gave Baumgartner the penalty to make it 5-1, but kept the ball
As before, Baumgartner converted Gregoritsch confidently and thereby overcame his personal “penalty trauma”. The Leipzig professional failed in the group game against Denmark at the U21 European Championships on June 20, 2019 when the score was 1-1 from the point. Austria lost 3-1, was later eliminated in the group stage and therefore missed out on taking part in the Summer Games in Tokyo. At that time, Gregoritsch was sitting in the stands as a fan in Udine. “I still joke to this day that he cost me the Olympics,” said the Freiburg attacker.
Baumgartner tested pressure situation for EM
His father, U21 team boss Werner Gregoritsch, had Baumgartner take another penalty despite the European Championship mishap on September 5, 2019 in the 3-1 European Championship qualifying win in Andorra, and the Waldviertler missed again. “I haven’t touched a penalty since then, but today the situation arose. There was pressure, I’m glad I withstood it,” said Baumgartner, who also wants to be prepared for a possible penalty shootout at the European Championships. “In the long term it might be better,” added Gregoritsch.
more on the subject
The ÖFB players in individual criticism
Baumgartner listed the order of the shooters in any penalty shootouts: “Gregerl one, Wöber two, Baumgartner three – Baumgartner sneaked in front of Wöber,” smiled the world record man, who later paid homage to Gregoritsch. “I have known his quality for a long time. I don’t know if everyone in Austria always knows her. He has a great nose, a great finish and works a lot for the team.”
Baumgartner, who scored after 6.3 seconds in Slovakia on Saturday, almost appeared as an early goalscorer again. His shot in the second minute was blocked by goalie Ugurcan Cakir, and Baumgartner’s Leipzig club colleague Xaver Schlager was saved. “I could have shot him in, but I’m really happy for Xaver because, in my opinion, he’s definitely one of the best sixes in Europe,” the offensive man explained afterwards.
Emotional evening for Entrup too
And last but not least, Maximilian Entrup was also able to claim a historic evening, as the Hartberg striker scored for the national team for the first time in his second international match. A year ago, the 26-year-old was playing in the regional league for FC Marchfeld, and now he was celebrating in the Happel Stadium.
GEPA/Armin Rauthner Hartberg striker Entrup is congratulated on his first goal in the national team
“I was speechless, I didn’t know what to do with the emotions. It’s indescribable, my most important goal of my career and a rare header. “I held the bulb right,” smiled the whiz kid, who came as a “joker” at the finish. “It was goosebumps, that’s what every footballer wants,” emphasized the 26-year-old, who, like Gregoritsch, will probably never forget this game.
Austrians with three or more goals in a game
[1945KarlDecker–4:1againstFrance
1949 Karl Decker – 5:2 against Yugoslavia
1950 Theodor “Turl” Wagner – 5:1 against Denmark
1952 Adolf Huber – 6-0 against Ireland
1953 Erich Probst (5 goals) – 9:1 against Portugal
1954 Erich Probst – 5:0 against CSSR
1954 Theodor “Turl” Wagner – 7:5 against Switzerland
1963 Horst Nemec – 3:1 against CSSR
1968 Erich Hof (5 goals) – 7:1 against Cyprus
1971 Thomas Parits – 6-0 against Ireland
1972 Josef Hickersberger – 4-0 against Malta
1977 Hans Krankl (6 goals) – 9-0 against Malta
1988 Rupert Marko – 4-0 against Hungary
1989 Toni Polster – 3-0 against GDR
1994 Peter Stöger – 4:3 against Poland
1994 Toni Polster – 4-0 against Liechtenstein
1995 Peter Stöger – 3-1 against Ireland
1997 Toni Polster – 3-0 against Estonia
1999 Ivica Vastic – 7:0 vs. San Marino
2006 Rene Aufhauser – 4:1 against Trinidad/Tobago
2024 Michael Gregoritsch – 6:1 against Türkiye
