Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Arnautovic · Baumgartner · P. Wimmer · R. Schmid · Laimer · Alaba · Dragovic · Lienhart · Sabitzer · Seiwald · Schlager

Austria focuses on a direct and aggressive style of play to unsettle the opponent. This lineup utilizes a 5-2-3 formation to maintain a high press and win the ball back high up the pitch. By playing with many players in the final third, the team looks to strike quickly and exploit any gaps left by the opposition.

Schlager sits between the defenders to guard the goal. The defensive unit operates with a back five where Seiwald acts as the central anchor to cover the space behind his teammates. Lienhart and Dragovic play as the side central defenders to defend the middle and win headers. On the flanks, Laimer and Alaba act as attacking wing backs to provide width. Alaba uses his passing range and set piece delivery to move the ball forward quickly. This group can drop into a low block if needed, but they often push up to squeeze the space.

The midfield consists of a two man central pairing. Sabitzer uses his energy to drive forward with the ball and connect the defensive and attacking lines. R. Schmid works to protect the middle and win the second ball when possession is recycled. They must stay compact to prevent the opposition from playing through the lines. This duo is tasked with pressing aggressively to disrupt the opponent rhythm in the middle of the pitch.

Up front, the team uses three attackers to stretch the defence. Arnautovic plays as a lone striker and uses his ability to hold up the ball to create space for others. He works to pin the last defender and find the feet of his teammates. P. Wimmer and Baumgartner play as wide attackers who look to cut inside and attack the box. This creates opportunities for runs in behind or cutbacks from the wide areas. The front three press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition.

A major strength of this Austria formation is the ability to create wide overloads through the movement of the wing backs. When Alaba and Laimer push up, they can isolate wide players in one on one situations. The team also benefits from the speed of transition when they win the ball high up the pitch. This allows them to hit in behind on the transition before the opposition can get organized.

This 5-2-3 formation is built for a high intensity and aggressive style of play. It is best suited for games against opponents that try to play out from the back under heavy pressure.