Post Graz Tragedy, Austria's National Football Team Takes the Field - Arnautovic Speaks His Mind: "I Don't Give a Flying Fig"
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Marko Arnautovic, the 36-year-old Austrian national team veteran, found himself in an unexpected predicament on Tuesday evening. As the team's captain, he led Austria to a 4-0 victory against San Marino during the World Cup qualifier. However, the usually energetic player seemed subdued post-match, eschewing the customary celebration in favor of a somber demeanor.
A journalist from Sky Sport Austria questioned Arnautovic about the team's dominance, to which he responded sincerely: "Let's cut the BS—it's nothing to do with you, but I've no desire to chat with you right now."
The heavy burden of the day's events—a school shooting in Graz that left 11 dead, including the perpetrator—weighed heavily on Arnautovic's mind. He described the tragedy as "pure horror."
"I had to suppress my emotions all day," Arnautovic explained further. "We've all got families at home, we've all got kids at home." He voiced his belief that the conversation should shift towards the safety of our children, rather than football.
Arnautovic's teammates echoed his sentiments. Striker Michael Gregoritsch, who hails from Graz, lived only ten minutes away from the affected area. "It's absolutely heartbreaking. The fact that it happened so close to home is what hurts the most," Gregoritsch said.
Similarly, BVB professional Marcel Sabitzer, another Graz native, remarked: "We checked up on the situation, how things were. Everyone is understandably shaken. And as I said, it hits you on a personal level."
The team took to the field against San Marino with a black armband, observing a minute of silence before the game. Originally planned fan marches and choreography were waved off, as the gravity of the situation outweighed the usual enthusiasm. The players themselves preferred not to play at all.
Sources: Sky Sport Austria, news agency DPA
- Graz
- Marko Arnautovic
- Austria
- San Marino
- World Cup qualification
- Austria
- School shooting
Additional Insights:
- The shooting in Graz, Austria, on June 10, 2025, resulted in ten fatalities and marked the deadliest mass shooting in the country's recent history [1][2].
- Austria observed three days of national mourning for the victims [2].
- While national tragedies can affect public mood and may lead to observances of silence or tributes at sporting events, no direct evidence or reporting links the impact of the Graz school shooting to the performance, morale, or public reactions of the Austrian national football team during their World Cup qualifier against San Marino.
- Despite their victory against San Marino, the Austrian football team seemed somber, with captain Marko Arnautovic choosing to forgo the usual celebrations following the match.
- Arnautovic, who showed his concern about the recent school shooting in Graz, urged for a shift in focus from sports analysis to the safety of children, expressing his personal connection to the event.
- In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of the directive regarding football matches and other sports events in Europe, as the impact of such incidents on team performances and public reactions continues to be assessed.
