Arnautović fires Austria to double‑digit victory

Red-hot atmosphere and a near sell-out crowd for San Marino’s penultimate away match in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. The first of two fixtures in the October international window was staged at the historic and prestigious Ernst Happel Stadion, the venue for Austria’s biggest games. An electric atmosphere and just under 40,000 fans welcomed the Titani, among whom there was a full senior debut for Matteoni – starting from kick-off. Rangnick opted for his first-choice line-up despite Sunday night’s trip to Bucharest to face Romania.

The hosts picked up the message and flew out of the blocks: within the opening minutes Sabitzer unleashed a left-footed effort from the edge of the box that crashed against the outside of the post. San Marino did not just sit back and responded with Nanni’s run in behind; he darted through onside, getting goal-side of Alaba, but then had to deal with Danso’s recovery pace. Two minutes later, Austria struck a painful one-two: Schmid broke the deadlock with an inswinging cross from the corner of the area which bounced and nestled in the net without taking a touch. In the 8th minute the long-awaited Arnautović powered home the second at the end of a swift counter-attack. Three minutes later the Titani showed themselves: a cross from wide by Tosi picked out the run of Contadini, who was just centimetres away from turning it in from close range. Shortly afterwards, the hosts found the net for a third time through Gregoritsch, but VAR intervened to spot a marginal offside and the goal was ruled out. Just after the quarter-hour mark Posch scuffed a right-footed effort from inside the area. The Como full-back again popped up in a good position on 20 minutes but failed to connect cleanly with Prass’s driven ball across. Cevoli’s men continued to look for attacking situations and, midway through the half, broke four against four, giving the ball to Berardi, who drove at and beat Danso. His cross from the side of the box was deflected by the Spurs centre-back for a corner, which was then cleared. At the other end Posch was far more decisive in the final ball, stealing in behind Tosi and crossing for Gregoritsch to stab in the 3-0 from close range. On the half-hour mark VAR was called into action again, this time to confirm the validity of Posch’s goal, initially disallowed by the assistant. Soon after, Schmid hit the top of the bar in bizarre fashion before being fouled from behind by Berardi, an offence that earned the San Marino forward a booking. He was not among the eight players walking a disciplinary tightrope called up by Cevoli for this match. Posch was back on the scoresheet soon after, lurking at the back post to turn in a corner flicked on by Danso. Austria kept up a relentless tempo and also found their sixth through Laimer, finishing off a superb vertical move. A moment before the half-time whistle Nanni got free in the middle of the area to meet a Lazzari cross: his header had enough power but not quite enough angle to beat Pentz.

At the start of the second half Valli Casadei replaced Lazzari, but there was also the second of the night for Arnautović, finishing from point-blank range after 90 seconds on a perfect assist from Schmid. Two minutes later Austria were awarded a very soft penalty for a coming-together between Prass and Contadini: VAR summoned Frid for an on-field review, prompting the referee to overturn his decision. Once play resumed, San Marino put together a fine vertical move that earned a free-kick from three-quarters distance: Capicchioni delivered into the box, where the ball broke kindly onto Berardi’s left foot, but he fired just over. The same protagonists were involved a minute later, when the San Marino forward’s diagonal effort was turned behind by Danso. On 57 minutes Zannoni also had a sight of goal, but his right-footed attempt from inside the area missed the target. At the other end Colombo produced a monumental save to deny a certain goal to Gregoritsch. On the hour Matteoni earned the plaudits of his team-mates with a perfectly timed tackle on Laimer, who was eyeing a brace. Midway through the second half there was space for Mularoni and Vitaioli: the latter returned to National Team action eleven months after his last appearance, bringing up cap number 98. Shortly afterwards, Cevoli also introduced Gabriel Capicchioni. In the meantime, Austria added another to the tally through substitute Wurmbrand, making his FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers debut with a precise strike into the corner from the edge of the box. In the 78th minute Colombo again came up big, winning his duel with Arnautović, who had broken through one-on-one on his right foot. Later on, San Marino’s goal was saved by Laimer, struck on the back by Grillitsch’s goal-bound right-footed effort. In the 81st minute Cevoli’s final change brought a slice of history: the introduction of Sammaritani set a new record for the youngest debut in the Biancazzurri shirt – at 16 years, 4 months and 2 days. Unfortunately for the Biancazzurri, it was a record-breaking night for Austria as well: thanks to Arnautović’s haul, they recorded the biggest win in their history, while their striker moved outright top of the all-time scoring charts on 45 goals. The Reds showed no intention of easing off, roared on by 37,500 fans who never stopped urging them forward.

European Qualifiers 2025, Matchday 7 | Austria–San Marino 10-0

AUSTRIA (4-2-3-1)

Pentz; Posch (71’ Wurmbrand), Danso, Alaba (63’ Friedl), Prass; Laimer, Seiwald (77’ Schöpf); Schmid, Gregoritsch (63’ Florucz), Sabitzer (71’ Grillitsch); Arnautović

Substitutes: Schlager, Polster, Querfeld, Lienhart, Mwene, Grüll, Baumgartner

Head coach: Ralf Rangnick

SAN MARINO (4-3-3)

Colombo; Matteoni (81' Sammaritani), Cevoli, Valentini, Tosi; Zannoni (67’ Mularoni), L. Capicchioni, Lazzari (46’ Valli Casadei); Contadini (73’ G. Capicchioni), Nanni, Berardi (67’ Vitaioli)

Substitutes: Zavoli, Amici, Riccardi, Sammaritani, Rossi, Pasolini, Giacopetti, Sensoli

Head coach: Roberto Cevoli

Referee: Yigal Frid (ISR)

Assistant referees: Rostislav Talis (ISR), Tuval Koltunoff (ISR)

Fourth official: David Fuxman (ISR)

VAR: Daniel Bar Natan (ISR)

AVAR: Eli Hacmon (ISR)

Scorers: 7’ Schmid, 8’, 47’, 83’ and 84’ Arnautović, 24’ Gregoritsch, 30’ and 42’ Posch, 45’ Laimer, 78’ Wurmbrand

Booked: Berardi, Valentini, Matteoni, Alaba

Note: 37,500 spectators