Austria National Team: Record Home Unbeaten Run on the Line vs. South Korea | Sabitzer & Wanner on ÖFB Team

Vienna – Austria’s national football team is on the cusp of a remarkable achievement, poised to potentially break a 97-year-old record for consecutive home matches without a loss. The team faces South Korea on Tuesday at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, where a victory or draw would spot them surpass the previous best mark set between 1922, and 1925.

The current Austrian side, coached by Ralf Rangnick, equaled a 51-year-old record with a 5-1 victory over Ghana on Friday. Now, they aim to surpass it, needing a positive result against South Korea to claim the outright record. Austria’s last defeat on home soil came over two and a half years ago, a 2-3 loss to Belgium in a European Championship qualifier, a match where they nearly salvaged a draw after trailing 3-0. Since then, the team has recorded nine wins and three draws at home.

A Legacy of Home Dominance

This pursuit of a recent record echoes past successes for the Austrian national team. Previously, the team achieved twelve consecutive home matches without defeat twice in its history: once between 1922 and 1925 under coach Hugo Meisl, and again from 1971 to 1975 under Leopold Stastny. The current run represents a chance to build upon that storied legacy.

The Ernst-Happel-Stadion, the venue for Tuesday’s match, holds significance in itself. It was the site of Austria’s record-breaking 10-0 victory over San Marino just months ago, the largest margin of victory in the nation’s football history.

Hunger for History

The players themselves are keenly aware of the opportunity. Romano Schmid expressed the team’s ambition, stating, “This team has already made history several times. And the coach has also said that we are the first generation to qualify for both a World Cup and a European Championship. Then we should seem to secure the outright record for home matches.”

Alexander Prass, currently enjoying a successful season with 1899 Hoffenheim, echoed this sentiment. “It’s always a good feeling when you can make history, and we will definitely try to do that again against South Korea,” he said, while also acknowledging the challenge posed by their opponents. “South Korea will be an unpleasant opponent; they are physically strong. We have to work hard for everything in every game.”

Coach Rangnick has also emphasized the importance of using this second World Cup warm-up match to build confidence ahead of the tournament. Key player Marcel Sabitzer reinforced this, stating, “Our goal is to play convincingly at home so that the fans come to the stadium. We had 40,000 against Ghana, and that has to be our target. We will continue to work hard.”

Ticket Sales and New Faces

Over 30,000 tickets had been sold for the match against South Korea as of Sunday afternoon, indicating strong fan support. New addition Paul Wanner experienced his first Austrian home game against Ghana, describing it as “a lot of fun to play in that atmosphere.”

The match against South Korea represents more than just a chance to break a record; it’s a crucial step in Austria’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup. The team will look to build momentum and refine their tactics as they gear up for the challenges ahead. Following Tuesday’s match, the team will finalize their World Cup squad and travel to the tournament, eager to make their mark on the global stage.

Fans can follow updates and official news regarding the Austrian national team on the ÖFB website: https://www.oefb.at/

What are your predictions for the match against South Korea? Share your thoughts in the comments below!