Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Wimmer · Baumgartner · R. Schmid · Sabitzer · Schlager · Seiwald · Danso · Prass · Lienhart · Laimer · Schlager

Austria focuses on a vertical style of play using a 2-5-3 formation. The lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and hit the opponent on the transition. This system relies on a heavy press to force mistakes in the opposition half.

Schlager stays between the posts to organize the back line. The defensive unit uses a very narrow back two consisting of Danso and Lienhart. Danso relies on his aerial strength to win headers and clear the lines. Lienhart acts as a ball playing defender to play short from the back and find the midfielders. Because the team pushes so high, these two must hold a high line and be ready to cover the space behind them if the opponent plays a long ball.

A five man midfield provides the engine for the Austria team. Laimer and Prass work as a deep lying pairing to shield the defense and protect the two central defenders. Schlager and Seiwald operate as two central midfielders who carry the ball forward and help to recycle possession. Sabitzer sits in the hole as an attacking ten to connect the midfield to the attack. He uses his passing range to split the defense with a through ball or to lay it off to moving runners. This central block works to squeeze the space and win it back high up the pitch.

The front line utilizes three attackers to pin the last defender. Baumgartner operates as a pressing centre-forward who works to disrupt the opposition build up. Wimmer and R. Schmid act as wide attackers who stretch the defense by pulling wide. They often cut inside to create goal scoring chances or to provide support for the central runs. The forwards look to hit in behind on the transition and use quick combinations to break the line.

One major advantage of this formation is the numerical superiority in midfield. Having five players allows the team to compress the midfield and dominate the second ball. The coordinated waves of the press make it hard for teams to play out from the back. Another strength is the speed of transition that allows the team to move from a defensive block to an attacking threat in seconds.

This 2-5-3 formation is a bold way to hunt for the ball in the opponent half. It is most effective when facing teams that struggle with high pressure and quick vertical movements.