Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Weimann · Baumgartner · P. Wimmer · Seiwald · Schlager · Sabitzer · Alaba · Danso · Lienhart · Laimer · Bachmann

Austria aims to win the ball early and use quick transitions to catch the opposition off guard. This 5-2-3 formation relies on a high press and verticality to move the ball forward quickly. The lineup is built to press from the front and use the width provided by the wing backs to stretch the defence and create chances.

Bachmann stays behind the defensive line to manage the space and sweep behind the high line when needed. The back five operates with Seiwald as the central defender to win the second ball and hold the line. Danso and Lienhart play as the side centre-backs to cover the channels and win headers during set pieces. Alaba and Laimer act as attacking wing backs who push high to provide width, but they must track back to maintain a narrow defensive block.

The midfield consists of two central players, Schlager and Sabitzer, who work to connect the defence and the attack. Sabitzer uses his passing range to switch play and find the front three, while Schlager presses aggressively to win the ball high up the pitch. They must be ready to cover the spaces left by the wing backs and recycle possession when the team moves into the final third.

Weimann operates as a lone striker to hold up the ball and pin the last defender. Baumgartner and P. Wimmer play as inverted wingers who cut inside to create space for the wing backs. This movement allows Alaba and Laimer to overlap the winger and whip it in towards the far post. The team attacks through combinations, with the attackers looking to play one twos and find the feet of the striker.

The tactical strengths of this Austria lineup include the ability to create wide overloads through the overlapping runs of Alaba and Laimer. The high press in coordinated waves from Weimann, Baumgartner, and P. Wimmer forces the opponent to play long balls. Furthermore, the central presence of Danso, Seiwald, and Lienhart makes the team very difficult to break down through the middle.

This 5-2-3 formation focuses on high intensity pressing and rapid transitions. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high defensive line and struggle to deal with vertical passing or rapid counter attacks.