Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Arnautovic · Baumgartner · P. Wimmer · R. Schmid · Sabitzer · Seiwald · Laimer · Danso · Lienhart · Mwene · Lucic

Austria aims to play a vertical and high pressing game using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is designed to win the ball high up the pitch and move forward with directness. The team seeks to squeeze the space in the opponent half and use quick transitions to catch teams out of position.

Lucic acts as the last line of defense in goal. The defensive unit functions with a back five that can shift between a high line and a mid block. Seiwald stays central to anchor the defense, while Danso and Lienhart operate as the wide center backs. Danso uses his aerial strength to win headers during set pieces and crosses. On the flanks, Mwene plays as an attacking wing back on the left, and Laimer provides energy on the right. He uses his pressing intensity to track back and win the ball. Together, they work to protect the middle and force opponents wide.

A two man pairing of Sabitzer and R. Schmid operates the midfield. Sabitzer acts as a carrier who drives forward and uses his passing range to play through the lines. He is vital for connecting the defensive and attacking lines. R. Schmid must work to cover the ground and press aggressively to win the second ball. This duo needs to stay close to one another to compress the midfield and prevent the opposition from finding space between them.

A front three of Arnautovic, P. Wimmer, and Baumgartner works in combination. Arnautovic acts as the target man, using his strength to hold up the ball and lay it off to moving teammates. P. Wimmer often stays wide to pull defenders away, while Baumgartner looks to cut inside and arrive late into the box. The wing backs, Mwene and Laimer, are expected to overlap the wingers to create wide overloads.

One major strength of this Austria lineup is the ability to press high in coordinated waves to trigger a press. The formation also provides great compactness when defending a lead. By using a back five, the team can easily double up on wide attackers. This formation also allows for rapid speed of transition when the ball is recovered.

This 5-2-3 formation is built for a high energy, vertical style of play. It is best suited for matches against teams that hold a lot of possession where the team can strike on the break.