Marko Arnautovic emotional after first World Cup goal

Stoke Sentinel · Peter Smith

Marko Arnautovic says he is parking any ego about individual records to try to help Austria do as well as possible in his final tournament with the team.

The 37-year-old former Stoke City talisman is Austria's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer and he has played a key role in reaching the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.

He was named on the bench for the opening group game match against Jordan but came on to score a penalty deep into stoppage time to secure a 3-1 win.

"I'm extremely happy and relieved that we won," Arnautovic, now playing for Red Star Belgrade, told the Vienna media. "Of course, I'm also happy about my goal, but for me, the most important thing is the team. The team gave everything.

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"There was a bit of nervousness at the beginning, you could tell. In the end, we got the win.

"I don't care about any records I have anymore. I just want to give my all in my last tournament for the team. Sitting on the bench is never a good feeling but I'm still here to support the team off the pitch as well. I have to say that Sasa (Kalajdzic) deserves to be in the team. I'm very happy with his form.

"It was already incredible here in the stadium yesterday, but today it was even more special."

Arnautovic's game time might be declining but he has still been the face of Austria's World Cup hopes.

He has been immortalised with a line in the team's official song, Stars and Stripes by Paul Pizzera: "You may have Britney b****, we've got Arnautovic." His family has also been followed for a seven-part documentary series, Team Arnautovic, for Puls 4.

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