Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

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

Austria plays a high press style of football using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup aims to win the ball high up the pitch and use rapid transitions to catch opponents off guard. The focus is on heavy pressure and verticality to break the lines of the opposing team quickly.

Schlager operates as the goalkeeper, acting as the last line of defense. The back line consists of a back three made up of Grillitsch, Danso, and Lienhart. Danso uses his aerial strength to win headers in the box, while Lienhart works to play out from the back. Prass and Laimer act as attacking wing backs, providing width and depth. Prass covers the left flank while Laimer pushes up to overlap the winger. The unit functions by squeezing the space between the lines and maintaining a compact formation when the opposition has the ball.

The midfield functions as a double pivot with Schlager and Seiwald. Seiwald works to protect the back three, often dropping to shield the defense. Schlager connects the defensive and attacking lines, moving to carry the ball forward. This duo must press aggressively to win the ball high up the pitch. They aim to win the second ball and immediately look to play through the lines to the attackers.

In the attacking phase, Austria uses three attackers across the front. Baumgartner acts as a pressing centre-forward, making runs in behind the defense to stretch the opposition. R. Schmid stays wide on the left to pull defenders away, while Sabitzer operates from the right. Sabitzer uses his passing range to switch play and find the runners. This front three works to pin the last defender and create space for the midfielders to arrive late into the box. They attack in combinations, often using cutbacks from the byline or quick movements to find gaps. The interplay between the wingers and the central striker allows the team to break the lines and find space in the half-spaces.

One major advantage for Austria is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. By using the front three and the two midfielders, they can squeeze the space and force a long ball from the opponent. Another strength is the width provided by Prass and Laimer, which creates wide overloads when they push up to support the wingers. This forces the opposition to stretch the defense and leaves gaps in the middle.

This formation relies on intense pressure and quick transitions to dominate the game. It is best suited for matches against teams that struggle to play out from the back or cannot handle high physical intensity.