Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Arnautovic · Baumgartner · P. Wimmer · R. Schmid · Sabitzer · Seiwald · Laimer · Schlager · Friedl · Lienhart · N. Schmid

Austria plays a high press and vertical style of football using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and move forward with speed through the thirds. The team looks to use quick transitions to catch the opponent out of position.

N. Schmid stays in goal to anchor the defense. The team uses a back three consisting of Lienhart as the right centre back, Seiwald as the central defender, and Friedl as the left centre back. Lienhart and Friedl work to cover the central zone and win headers, while Seiwald acts as the main presence to sweep behind the line. Laimer and Schlager play as attacking wing backs, pushing high to provide width and stretch the defence. They must work hard to track back and maintain a compact block when the team loses possession.

The midfield uses a double pivot consisting of R. Schmid and Sabitzer. Sabitzer uses his passing range and ability to carry the ball forward to move the play from the defensive third into the final third. R. Schmid works to win the second ball and protect the area in front of the back three. This pair connects the defensive unit to the front line, often looking to play through the lines to reach the attackers.

The front line uses three attackers to pressure the opposition back line. Arnautovic plays as a target man to hold up the ball and win the header, while Baumgartner and P. Wimmer operate as wide players who cut inside. This movement creates space for Laimer and Schlager to overlap and deliver crosses. The team attacks in combinations, often looking to hit in behind on the transition once the ball is recovered high up the pitch.

The formation offers several tactical advantages, such as the ability to press high in coordinated waves. By using Laimer and Schlager as attacking wing backs, Austria can create wide overloads to overwhelm the opposition flanks. This also allows the team to maintain numerical superiority in certain areas of the pitch during the attack.

This 5-2-3 formation is designed for an aggressive and vertical style of play. It is best suited for facing opponents that play a high line or struggle to deal with quick transitions.