Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Austria plays with a heavy high press and seeks to win it back high up the pitch. The team uses a 3-5-2 formation to squeeze the space and force turnovers in the final third. This lineup is built to play vertical football and catch opponents during rapid transitions. By pressing from the front, they aim to disrupt the build up play of the opposition.

Pentz protects the goal as the goalkeeper. The defensive unit consists of a back three where Friedl and Posch act as wide centre-backs to cover the flanks and track back when needed. Lienhart sits in the middle of the line as a ball playing defender to help play out from the back and find teammates. They often set the offside trap and hold a high line to keep the team compact and reduce the space for the opposition to move.

The midfield is a five man unit designed to control the centre of the pitch. Grillitsch sits in front of the defence as a single pivot to shield the back three and recycle possession. Laimer and Prass operate in the central zones, with Laimer known for his high pressing intensity and ability to carry the ball forward. Seiwald and Sabitzer occupy the half spaces to connect the defensive and attacking lines. Sabitzer uses his passing range to split the defence with a through ball and find the feet of the striker.

Austria uses two forwards in a partnership to lead the attack. Baumgartner acts as a pressing centre-forward to trigger a press against the opposition back line. Wimmer plays as the other forward to make runs in behind the defenders. The attackers work in combinations to pull wide and stretch the defence. When the team enters the final third, Seiwald and Sabitzer look to arrive late into the box to score from cutbacks.

The 3-5-2 provides Austria with several tactical advantages. They achieve numerical superiority in the midfield which allows them to control the tempo and win the second ball. The team can also create wide overloads when the midfielders push up to support the attack. This formation allows them to press in pairs and break quickly once the ball is won.

This formation is built for a team that wants to dominate through aggressive pressing and quick vertical play. It is best suited for games against opponents that try to play short from the back and leave space behind their midfield.