Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Alaba · Laimer · Trauner · Lienhart · Grillitsch · Seiwald · Arnautovic · P. Wimmer · R. Schmid · Grüll · Pentz

Austria seeks to control the game through heavy pressure and high possession. This lineup utilizes a 2-5-3 formation to crowd the central areas and pin the opposition back. The goal is to dominate the ball and use the high number of players in the middle to squeeze the space. It is a system built to win the ball back high up the pitch and keep the opponent pinned in their own half.

Pentz stays busy between the posts as the lone goalkeeper. The defensive unit operates with a narrow back two of Lienhart and Trauner. Because there are only two centre backs, they must hold the line and play a high line to compress the pitch. Lienhart is a ball playing defender who looks to play short from the back to start attacks. Trauner must be ready to cover and intercept any long balls that attempt to bypass the midfield. They defend zonally to keep the team compact.

The midfield is the heart of the Austria lineup. Alaba and Laimer form a double pivot to protect the two centre backs. Alaba uses his passing range to find teammates and move the ball quickly. Seiwald and Grillitsch operate in the half spaces to help recycle possession and support the attack. R. Schmid sits as an attacking ten behind the striker to find pockets of space. This five man midfield can shift to protect the wide areas or press aggressively to win the second ball.

Up front, the team uses three attackers to force the opposition defence back. Arnautovic acts as a target man who uses his aerial strength to win the header and hold up the ball for others. Grüll and P. Wimmer play as wide wingers to stretch the defence. Grüll likes to cut inside and look for a pass, while P. Wimmer tries to hit in behind on the transition. The attackers work to press the opposition back line to force a long ball.

This formation provides huge numerical superiority in the central areas of the pitch. With five players in the middle, the team can easily control the tempo and pass through the lines. Another major advantage is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. When the ball is lost, the players close down the opponent immediately to win it back high up the pitch. This creates many chances to attack the near post or far post on the break.

This 2-5-3 lineup is a very aggressive way to play. It is best suited for matches where Austria wants to overwhelm a team that sits deep in a low block.