After wild World Cup thriller: BVB star Sabitzer pulls no punches | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer experiences a real World Cup thriller and, with a strong performance, leads Austria into the round of 32. After the dramatic 3-3 draw against Algeria, the BVB pro then surprises with a self-critical admission.

What a World Cup spectacle! In the dramatic 3-3 draw between Austria and Algeria, no fewer than three Borussia Dortmund players were in the spotlight. While Ramy Bensebaini secured top spot in the group with Algeria, Marcel Sabitzer and substitute Sasa Kalajdzic rescued Austria into the round of 32 with a goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Carney Chukwuemeka, meanwhile, watched the turbulent match from the bench for the full 90 minutes.

At one point, everything had looked like a bitter World Cup exit for the team coached by Ralf Rangnick. After Riyad Mahrez had put Algeria 3-2 up in stoppage time, Austria had slipped out of the group’s top two. But Sabitzer started the decisive move with a cross to the back post. Michael Gregoritsch flicked it on with his head before Kalajdzic, also with a header, forced the ball over the line for the celebrated 3-3.

Sabitzer was accordingly relieved after the final whistle when speaking to MagentaTV. “I don’t even know what to say. It’s such a rollercoaster,” said the BVB pro. Despite the happy ending, however, the midfielder did not hold back in criticizing his team’s performance.

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After all, Austria had taken the lead twice and thrown it away both times. “We go ahead twice. Then you have to see it through. You just can’t do that in a game like this. At times, it was unprofessional,” said the 32-year-old.

Photo: IMAGO

Sabitzer also made it clear that he had not liked the passive style of play in the closing stages at all. Austria dropped deep and handed possession to Algeria. “I didn’t like that at all. It was never going to end well, and it didn’t. It didn’t feel good,” he later admitted. But after the last-minute equalizer, the relief of advancing took over.

The Dortmund man had already played his part much earlier. With a superb first-time strike, he had made it 2-1 for Austria in the 55th minute and scored his first World Cup goal. Austria now faces a real test against Spain in the round of 32. Algeria, meanwhile, will take on Switzerland — and with it BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.