If you ask Michael Gregoritsch about his day of the year, he will most likely say November 18, 2025. The striker came into the game in the 59th minute in the sold-out Ernst Happel Oval in the game between Austria and Bosnia. It was 0:1. “Gregerl” knew: If he scores, the ÖFB team will go to a World Cup for the first time in 28 years. If the game is lost, there will be a big catastrophe. He scored – and became a qualifying hero.
“I’ve probably seen the goal 400 times since then,” grins Gregoritsch, who has already scored 17 (!) goals under team boss Ralf Rangick.
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The goalgetter has time to relax over the Christmas holidays. “Mom traditionally makes chestnut cream soup, it’s sensational,” reveals the Graz native.
One Christmas wish has already come true – at the World Cup group draw. “Argentina was my ultimate dream. It’s extremely exciting to play against them near South America.” Not only that. “I wanted Group J – because of the venues. Kansas City and Dallas have notorious stadiums, plus San Francisco.”
Of course, Gregoritsch has already thought about the tournament. He says: “If we get to our 100 percent, a lot is possible.” The goals? “It would be pointless to say we want to get into this or that round. Because what if we get there? Should we then say, now we can be eliminated?”
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The 31-year-old is reminiscent of a talisman. “We didn’t get a lucky charm with the World Cup trophy for nothing. It would be presumptuous to talk about the title, but the U17s have shown the way. If we get to 100 percent, there are no limits.”
