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Arnautovic bids tearful farewell to Austria after World Cup exit
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Arnautovic bids tearful farewell to Austria after World Cup exit

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Marko Arnautovic concluded his international football career with Austria after their 3-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup.
  • The 37-year-old forward retires as Austria's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 137 appearances and 49 goals.
  • Arnautovic expressed deep emotion about his departure, thanking fans and teammates, while coach Ralf Rangnick acknowledged his significant contribution to the team's success.

Marko Arnautovic bid an emotional farewell to his international career with Austria following their 3-0 defeat against Spain in the World Cup's round of 16. The 37-year-old striker concluded an 18-year tenure, retiring as Austria's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with a record 137 appearances and 49 goals.

For me it has been an incredible experience, which has unfortunately now ended.

— Marko ArnautovicDescribing the end of his international career after the match.

Visibly moved, Arnautovic described the end of his international journey as an "incredible experience" that had now "unfortunately ended." Speaking to public television ORF, he called the final match a "catastrophe" and expressed gratitude to the entire nation, including those who wished for his departure. "I have lived through many wonderful moments and also many that were not so good. And now it hurts even more, because here I found teammates who have become my family," he added, his voice trembling.

A catastrophe.

— Marko ArnautovicResponding to how he felt after his last international match.

Arnautovic highlighted representing Austria at a World Cup as the pinnacle of his career. He lamented the elimination by Spain, whom he recognized as an "extraordinary team." His international debut was on October 11, 2008, against the Faroe Islands. He participated in the Euros in 2016, 2021, and 2024, as well as the World Cup, where he scored two goals. He is among the few Austrians to have scored in both a European Championship and a World Cup.

I want to thank the whole nation, all Austrians. Even those who have wanted me to leave for a long time. I thank them too.

— Marko ArnautovicExpressing gratitude to the Austrian public.

Head coach Ralf Rangnick described Arnautovic's farewell speech in the locker room as a "very special" and "moving moment" that brought many players and staff members to tears. "Without Marko and without his goals, we probably wouldn't have reached the Euros or this World Cup," the German coach stated, underscoring the striker's crucial role in the team's qualification successes. Meanwhile, teammates David Alaba and Marcel Sabitzer remained non-committal about their own international futures, fueling speculation.

I have lived through many wonderful moments and also many that were not so good. And now it hurts even more, because here I found teammates who have become my family.

— Marko ArnautovicReflecting on his time with the national team.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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