"Absolute Madness": Press Reactions to the Crazy Draw against Algeria

Austria's 3-3 draw against Algeria was a match that many fans will remember for a long time.

A goal from Riyad Mahrez in stoppage time to make it 3-2 seemed to seal the ÖFB's fate after a period of tame passing by both teams in the final quarter of the match. But then Saša Kalajdžić had his big moment, scoring to make it 3-3 in the sixth minute of stoppage time (Match Report>>>).

The international press also reached for a collection of superlatives. Match Highlights in Video>>>

Here is an excerpt from the international media:

Algeria

Competition: "After a match full of twists and turns, the national team has qualified for the round of sixteen of the 2026 World Cup thanks to the draw against Austria (3-3, half-time score: 1-1)."

Germany

Bild: "What a completely crazy match! Austria squanders two leads against Algeria, concedes Riyad Mahrez's 2-3 in stoppage time (90+3), and thus faces World Cup elimination. But then Saša Kalajdžić scores for 3-3 seconds before the end (90+6). Pure ecstasy in Red-White! The former Stuttgart player saves national coach Ralf Rangnick's team and secures their entry into the knockout round."

England

The Guardian: "A new classic. One might even call it the 'Missouri Compromise,' if one so wishes, but even this term does not entirely do justice to the drama and wild fluctuations in the game's progression, which exhausted the players and coaches involved, but thrilled the fans lucky enough to be there."

The Athletic: "Extraordinary duel between Algeria and Austria eliminates Iran, delivers a result many expected and a game no one expected."

Player ratings for Austria>>>

USA

New York Times: "Algeria and Austria played out a thrilling draw, which saw both teams qualify for the World Cup knockout rounds and Iran eliminated. It was a result many expected, but there was utter chaos, with a stunning finish and a truly remarkable goal."

Spain

Marca: "What an incredible finish to get to know our opponent! Austria were eliminated in the 93rd minute... and qualified in the 96th minute!"

Sport: "Utter madness! Austria qualify in the 96th minute and will face Spain in the round of sixteen. Luis de la Fuente's team now knows their opponent in the first knockout round: Austria, who were still eliminated in the 93rd minute, qualify two minutes later in one of the most surreal game finishes of this World Cup."

Italy

Gazzetta dello Sport: "A draw it was meant to be – and a draw it was. But the 3-3 draw, which sees Austria and Algeria through, will provide plenty of talking points: With the score at 2-2, an endless and embarrassing back-and-forth began, which was surprisingly interrupted by Mahrez's goal in the 93rd minute, eliminating Austria. Two minutes later, exactly at the final whistle, Kalajdžić then scored for 3-3, which brought things back into balance."

France

L’Equipe: "A draw would have been enough for both Austria and Algeria, but both teams gave their all until the end on Saturday evening in the humid heat of Kansas City (3-3). As the ninth-best third-placed team, Iran was thus not eliminated by a modern version of the 'Disgrace of Gijón'."