[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Jong-guk] Austria is heading into its match with South Korea with plenty of confidence.
South Korea will evaluate its squad against Austria at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on the morning of the 1st (KST). The team travels to Austria after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on the 28th.
Austria warmed up for the clash with a 5-1 victory over Ghana, with Marcel Sabitzer standing out thanks to a goal and two assists.
Ralf Rangnick has been in charge since 2022, and the side has found stability under his leadership. Austria are unbeaten in 12 straight home matches; under Rangnick they recorded a 2-0 home win over Germany and thrashed Turkey and Norway 6-1 and 5-1. They advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2024 after competing in a group with France, the Netherlands and Poland. In 2026 World Cup qualifying, Austria topped Group H with a 6-1-1 record, edging out Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania to secure a spot in the World Cup finals. It will be Austria’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, since 1998. The match against South Korea gives them a chance to extend their national record to 13 consecutive home matches without defeat.
Austrian midfielder Schmidt, who plays for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, told Kurier, “Our team has already made history several times. Rangnick said we are the first generation to feature at both the World Cup and the European Championship. Now we have to set a new record for consecutive unbeaten home matches.”
Hoffenheim defender Prass added, “Making history is always special. We’ll do our best to make history again against South Korea. They’re a strong, physically robust side, so we have to give our all in every match.”
