Overview

• Play stopped in the 75th minute at Linz’s Raiffeisen Arena after a hole appeared on the edge of Austria’s penalty area.
• Referee Jakob Kehlet suspended the match for seven minutes, and 10 minutes of stoppage time were later added.
• Ground staff packed the divot with sand as goalkeeper Alexander Schlager assisted, estimating the depth at 30 to 40 centimeters.
• Austria prevailed 1-0 through Marcel Sabitzer’s 54th-minute penalty, remaining second in Group H behind Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Managing director Bernard Neuhold said there were no injuries and declined to speculate on causes, noting a similar incident in 2022 at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium as players voiced concern about pitch conditions.