"Krone" footballer selection

Camel ride on the way to Almaty: “That was tough”

Superfan Gernot Thierschädl on a camel ride in Dubai on the way to Almaty.(Bild: GLBG Crew)

Fans like Gernot Thierschädl are typical of the "Krone" footballers. In Dubai, he rode a camel on the way to Kazakhstan. His favorite: Christoph Baumgartner. The World Cup project has already been kicked off with a darts tournament.

For 13 years, Gernot Thierschädl has not missed an international match of the Austrian national team apart from the Corona period. Even the most recent Nations League match in Almaty was not missed by the chairman of the national team fan club "GLBG Crew". Together with two other crew members from Bad Gleichenberg, the 35-year-old flew to Kazakhstan with a stopover in Dubai, including a camel ride: "From 32 degrees in the desert to minus two degrees and snowfall in the stadium - that was tough. But that's part of fan life." Just like car journeys to international matches in Moldova and Georgia, which were sometimes very adventurous.

Xaver Schlager in the fan sector - that was a big highlight for Thierschädl (left).(Bild: GLBG Crew)

Meeting Schlager
There was a major highlight during Austria's European Championship round of 16 match against Turkey in Leipzig. Suddenly, the then injured team player Xaver Schlager was standing in the fan sector, singing "Immer wieder Österreich" with a megaphone. Thierschädl: "That was very special, because it showed the appreciation of the fans." Who is his favorite in the 58th "Krone" footballer poll? "Definitely Christoph Baumgartner, he was outstanding in the national team in 2024."

The "GLBG Crew" also began financing the planned 2026 World Cup trip with a large-scale darts tournament, including catering, on 1 February in the Merkendorf sports hall. Thierschädl: "We are certain that Austria will be there."