Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Hinteregger · Dragovic · Lainer · Alaba · Arnautovic · Grillitsch · Schlager · Laimer · Baumgartner · Sabitzer · Pentz

Austria plays a high press game with a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly. The team relies on vertical play to catch opponents off balance before they can settle or organize.

Pentz stays in goal to organize the defensive line. A back five forms the foundation, featuring Grillitsch, Hinteregger, and Dragovic in the center. Grillitsch acts as a ball playing defender to play short from the back and start attacks. Alaba operates as an attacking wing back on the left to provide width, while Lainer plays as an attacking wing back on the right. The central defenders like Hinteregger and Dragovic defend zonally to protect the middle and cover for the wing backs.

The midfield works as a double pivot consisting of Laimer and Schlager. Laimer uses his high pressing intensity to win the ball high, while Schlager helps to cover the space in front of the back five. These two connect the defensive and attacking lines by playing through the lines and recycling possession. They must work hard to squeeze the space and ensure the team holds a compact shape when the opposition has the ball.

Up front, Austria uses three attackers. Arnautovic acts as a target man to hold up the ball and allow others to join the move. Baumgartner and Sabitzer operate as wide attackers who stretch the defence. Sabitzer often cuts inside from the right to create chances, while Baumgartner looks to run in behind the opposition back line. This front line aims to press from the front to force a long ball from the opponent.

This formation offers significant wide overloads because Alaba and Lainer push high to support the wingers. Austria also benefits from the ability to press high in coordinated waves, which creates chances from turnovers. The speed of transition is a major asset when the team wins the second ball and moves quickly toward the goal in open space.

The 5-2-3 formation defines a direct and aggressive identity for Austria. It is best suited for matches against high possession teams that try to play out from the back.