Last year, Gregoritsch was the most accurate ÖFB player with five goals in eight international matches. With two goals and two assists, he was recently in top form at SC Freiburg – even though he has only been used as a substitute at his club recently. “Because I keep getting shots in the last few minutes and can also score goals,” his role as a “super joker” is fine.
“I believe that there are simply phases in a season, phases in a career, where it is perhaps even a bit more pleasant to come off the bench.” Nevertheless, the Styrian believes that he can contribute his strengths right from the start. After Sasa Kalajdzic’s injury-related absence (torn cruciate ligament) and Marko Arnautovic’s recurring muscular problems, a lot will depend on him at the European Championships.
Goal scorer Gregoritsch in focus
ÖFB team striker Michael Gregoritsch is currently in top form. The Freiburg legionnaire scored four goals and provided two assists in the last eight competitive games for his club. Hopes also rest on the Styrian because of the injuries to Marko Arnautovic and Sasa Kalajdzic.
Trust as “additional motivation”
“For me it’s not a pressure, it’s a really nice thing that people in Austria perceive it in such a way that I could become important for the team,” emphasized Gregoritsch. “It’s a certain trust that you get. When so many people believe in you, that’s additional motivation.” If Arnautovic gets fit again in time for the European Championships, “then we’ll be really well positioned in the attack.” Kalajdzic wishes Gregoritsch a speedy recovery and that he “then gets back to the level where he was.”
The son of U21 team boss Werner Gregoritsch has scored twelve goals in 51 international matches for Austria so far. But for a long time he had to queue behind strikers like Marc Janko, Martin Harnik and, most recently, Arnautovic. “It was difficult to get past that,” admitted Gregoritsch. The move from relegation candidate Augsburg to European Cup participant Freiburg in 2022 played a role. “When you work in a club and play internationally and not with Augsburg for 15th place, the perception changes.”
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System suits striker Baumgartner
It’s hard to imagine the ÖFB offensive without it
He has now become an integral part of the ÖFB offensive. The interaction with Arnautovic is now also working. “That’s nice.” Things have been going particularly well recently with Christoph Baumgartner, with whom he is close friends. “There is a blind understanding, you can tell,” said Gregoritsch about the Leipzig attacker. “If you are best friends with someone off the pitch, that also makes a big difference on the pitch.”
Gregoritsch as a fixed point in the center of the attack, Baumgartner as a free spirit around him – this is what team boss Ralf Rangnick’s recipe for success looked like in the test against Germany at the end of November (2-0). “It’s basically very cool to play in this team,” emphasized Gregoritsch. “Because we have great traction towards the goal, good pressing, good periods of possession – that’s a game you want as a striker.”
There is great anticipation for the European Championships
This should also bring success at the European Championships. Gregoritsch didn’t want to overestimate the tough group opponents France and the Netherlands. “It’s one of the greatest experiences you can have,” said the attacker about his second European Championship participation. “I’m really craving it.” A tournament is different than a normal international break after which you return to your club. “If you don’t deliver there, you’re done for.”
Gregoritsch last delivered in Freiburg. And he wants to catch up with Andreas Herzog (59) as quickly as possible in the all-time scorer list of ÖFB players in the German Bundesliga with 55 goals. In front of him would only be Toni Polster (90), Wilhelm Huberts (67) and Harnik (66). “Toni will be difficult at 90. But becoming the second best Austrian is the next goal,” said Gregoritsch.
