FCA players on international duty

The first international games have been completed and Switzerland and Austria were both able to overcome their opponents. South Korea, meanwhile, had to accept defeat.

Austria 3–0 Slovenia

Austria prevailed 3-0 in their friendly against Slovenia under new coach Franco Foda. Bundesliga player David Alaba (15’) scored the first goal on the team’s road to victory, followed by another first-half goal from Marko Arnautović (36’). Arnautović completed his brace shortly after the change of ends (51’) and the match ended 3-0 to Austria. While FCA’s Martin Hinteregger played the entire 90 minutes, Michael Gregoritsch was brought on from the bench in the 69th minute. Austria play Luxembourg next on Tuesday (27th March).

Greece 0–1 Switzerland

Switzerland beat Greece 1-0 in their preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Blerim Džemaili scored the winner in the 59th minute for Switzerland. Marwin Hitz didn’t come on from the bench. On the other side of the pitch, Konstantinos Stafylidis, who is currently on loan from FC Augsburg at Stoke, joined the action in the 79th minute. Switzerland’s next match is against Panama, who have also qualified for the World Cup, in the Swissporarena in Lucerne.

Northern Ireland 2–1 South Korea

Germany’s World Cup group opponents South Korea were beaten 2-1 in Northern Ireland. Ja-Cheol Koo’s team took an early lead through Chang-Hoon Kwon (7’), but the hosts soon equalised after a South Korea own goal (20’). Paul Smyth scored the winner for Northern Ireland in the closing stages of the match (86’). Koo was an unused substitute in the match. South Korea face Poland away in the next friendly on Tuesday (27th March).