Austria’s national team faced a frustrating 1-1 draw against Serbia in the Nations League playoffs, despite dominating much of the match. Marko Arnautović missed a critical chance to secure victory, and he revealed experiencing a panic attack during the game. With a passionate home crowd of 46,400, Austria initially led through a goal by Michael Gregoritsch but allowed Serbia to equalize with a stunning strike. Coach Ralf Rangnick praised the team’s performance, while captain David Alaba expressed disappointment over the result.
ÖFB Team’s Struggle in Nations League Playoff Against Serbia
Despite showcasing their dominance, particularly in the first half, the Austrian national team fell short of securing three points in their match against Serbia. In a nail-biting finish, Marko Arnautović had a golden opportunity to head the ball into the net but was thwarted by Serbia’s goalkeeper. Adding to the drama, Arnautović disclosed that he experienced a panic attack during the match.
Austrian Hopes Dashed in Front of Home Crowd
In front of an enthusiastic crowd of 46,400 at the packed Ernst Happel Stadium, including over 10,000 Serbian supporters, Austria faced Serbia in the first leg of the Nations League playoffs, aiming for promotion to Group A. The Serbian side initially focused on defense, allowing Austria to craft multiple scoring chances. Christoph Baumgartner was the first to threaten the Serbian goal in the 19th minute, followed by Arnautović, who shot over the bar in the 29th minute. Arnautović later assisted Michael Gregoritsch, who scored to make it 1-0. Just before halftime, Baumgartner missed a chance to double the lead in the 43rd minute, while Serbia managed at least one shot on goal before the break.
In the second half, Serbian player Samardžić executed a stunning goal, curling the ball into the left corner. Austria’s David Alaba narrowly avoided disaster after being outmaneuvered by Vlahovic but regrouped to clear the ball with Seiwald in the 65th minute. In the final 30 minutes, Austria attempted to put pressure on Serbia with high balls into the penalty area. Arnautović had a crucial opportunity to clinch victory but failed to convert against goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic in the 89th minute, resulting in a disappointing 1-1 draw. This marked the second consecutive match in which Austria, after leading 1-0 at home, could not secure a win, having previously drawn against Slovenia in November and missing out on direct promotion.
Despite the setback, the ÖFB team remains unbeaten in their last five matches and has yet to lose at home in six games. Head coach Ralf Rangnick noted, “I can’t blame the team much. We controlled the game for 94 minutes, had numerous clear chances, and dominated possession.” He praised his squad for executing the game plan effectively over long stretches.
Captain David Alaba made his return to central defense for the national team for the first time since November 21, 2023. He expressed his disappointment, stating, “It feels almost like a defeat. We were clearly the better team over 90 minutes and created numerous chances.” Looking ahead to the return leg in Belgrade, Arnautović confidently declared, “We’re going there to win.” He also shared his experience of dealing with a panic attack during the match, feeling nauseous and dizzy after an incident in the penalty area but was able to continue after receiving medical assistance.