Alaba: Austria Must Be Proud Despite World Cup Exit

Austria's return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since France 1998 ended in a 3-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 32, leaving the team with mixed emotions. While there was immense satisfaction in advancing from the group stage, the comprehensive loss was a bitter end to their campaign.

Reaction from the Austria Camp

Captain David Alaba described the mood in the dressing room as one of emptiness and grief. "There's a certain emptiness in us, a certain grief. We're extremely disappointed, of course," Alaba said. "That's also the mood in the dressing room. But we have to be proud of us, just like over the past few weeks."

Marko Arnautovic, Austria's all-time leading appearance maker and scorer, echoed Alaba's sentiments. "I think the lads shouldn't be too down," Arnautovic said. "Chin up – we've been able to write history again."

Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, who made several crucial saves, reflected on the match's turning points. "As long as it's 1-0, you always feel like a match at this level can change in any moment. You have to believe," Schlager said. "Of course it gets more difficult at 2-0, but even there you have to keep risking it until the end – it's a knockout game. At 3-0, it was wrapped up. At the end of the day, it's very, very disappointing in this moment, because we would've really liked to keep representing our country. But we have to accept this as it is."

A Historic Return and a Bittersweet End

Austria's World Cup appearance after a 28-year absence was a milestone, but Alaba made clear the team aimed for more than just participation. "At this point, we have a team that thinks big and has big dreams. If you're not able to make these dreams come true, that really hurts," he said.

Arnautovic defended the team's performance, saying, "I don't want to hear anyone say that we could've done better. Each one of us should be proud of what he did. The boys did great and I'm very proud of them."

End of an Era: Arnautovic Retires from International Football

The defeat also marked the end of an era for Austrian football, as Arnautovic confirmed his retirement from the national team. The 35-year-old, who scored 49 goals in 137 appearances for Austria, including two at this World Cup, was emotional. "I'm very sad, very emotional," Arnautovic said. "A lot of tears. But then there's also that moment where I can say that I'm happy and lucky to have even had the honour of playing for this country for so many years."

Looking Ahead

With the World Cup over, Austria now turns its attention to the UEFA Nations League in September and beyond. The team aims to make World Cup participation a regular occurrence rather than an exception. "Of course it's something special," Alaba said about the tournament, but the squad is determined to build on this experience and return to the global stage more consistently.