Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Pentz · Danso · Prass · Lienhart · Laimer · R. Schmid · Baumgartner · Schlager · Seiwald · Sabitzer · P. Wimmer

Austria looks to dominate through an intense high press and rapid verticality. This 2-5-3 formation is built to squeeze the pitch and win the ball back high up the pitch to catch teams out of position. The team relies on quick transitions and high energy to keep the opposition under constant pressure throughout the match.

Pentz stays between the posts to organize a back line that operates with a high line. Lienhart and Danso act as the two central defenders, where Danso provides aerial strength and Lienhart plays out from the back with a good passing range. They must cover huge amounts of space behind them, relying on their ability to intercept passes and win the second ball to prevent long balls from reaching the opposition.

The midfield acts as the engine room for Austria, using a dense five-man unit to control the center of the pitch. Prass and Laimer form a double pivot to shield the defense, with Laimer often driving forward with the ball to transition play. Seiwald and Schlager operate in the half-spaces to press aggressively and win possession, while Sabitzer plays as an attacking ten behind the striker. Sabitzer looks to find the feet of the striker or play through the lines to split the defense with a through ball.

Moving into the attacking phase, the team uses three players across the front to stretch the defense. Baumgartner works as a pressing centre-forward to disrupt the opponent, while P. Wimmer and R. Schmid act as wide wingers to provide width. P. Wimmer and R. Schmid often cut inside to create overloads in the central areas, allowing Baumgartner to find space in the box. This front line looks to attack in combinations and hit in behind on the transition to catch the defense off guard.

Numerical superiority in the midfield offers a major advantage, making it hard for opponents to bypass the middle. The coordination of the five midfielders allows the team to press in waves, creating high pressure that forces mistakes. Additionally, the ability of the wingers to move inside creates space for the midfielders to arrive late into the box and score.

This aggressive 2-5-3 is an identity built on suffocating the opposition and playing with extreme verticality. It is best suited for games against teams that struggle to play out from the back under heavy pressure.