The 2026 FIFA World Cup ended for the ÖFB national team in the round of 32.
Against European champions Spain, they suffered a clear 0-3 defeat - The ratings for the ÖFB players >>>
For Christoph Baumgartner, the dream of being on the field as a player at a World Cup ended before his departure to the USA, when he suffered a severe muscle injury in his thigh adductor region while warming up in the World Cup test match against Tunisia.
Baumgartner Gets Emotional
However, Baumgartner did not let his big goal of being in the USA be taken away: The Waldviertel native traveled to the World Cup as an extended part of the support staff.
Baumgartner was a liaison between coaches and players, spoke to the media several times, and always exuded positivity - however, in his final "ServusTV" interview after Austria's World Cup exit, emotions poured out of Baumgartner:
"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to experience the tournament the way I would have wanted," the Horner native struggled with tears as he spoke these words.
"We Will Come Back Stronger!"
Nevertheless, he described the World Cup as a "great experience" and immediately showed a fighting spirit again: "We will analyze this and come back stronger. In two years we have a EURO and in four years another World Cup – I'm looking forward to that!"
