Austria National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Baumgartner · R. Schmid · Sabitzer · Schlager · Seiwald · Laimer · Prass · Friedl · Lienhart · Posch · Schlager

Austria aims for high pressing and verticality through a 3-4-3. The lineup works to win the ball back high up the pitch and move quickly through the thirds. This formation is built to use wide areas to stretch the defence and create chances through rapid transitions.

Schlager operates between the posts to start the build up. The back line consists of a back three featuring Lienhart, Friedl, and Posch. Lienhart sits in the middle to act as a ball playing defender who can sweep behind a high line. Friedl and Posch provide cover on either side, often stepping up to meet attackers or marking a target striker. The unit functions as a compact block that can shift side to side to close down space.

The midfield is a four man unit that connects the defence to the attack. Seiwald and Schlager act as the central pairing to control the middle. Seiwald works to protect the back line and pick up runners, while Schlager looks to carry the ball forward and recycle possession. Prass and Laimer play in the wide areas to provide width. Prass works to press in a mid-block on the left, while Laimer uses his high pressing intensity to track back and cover the flank. This midfield group works to squeeze the space and prevent the opposition from playing through the lines.

The front three uses a central presence with Baumgartner playing as the main striker. R. Schmid and Sabitzer operate as wide attackers on either side. R. Schmid tends to cut inside to find space in the half spaces, while Sabitzer uses his passing range to find teammates or move into pockets of space. Baumgartner works to pin the last defender and hold up the ball for the incoming runners. The attack looks to hit in behind on the transition and use combinations to break the line.

One main strength of this Austria lineup is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. By using the front three and the wide midfielders, they can force a long ball from the opposition. Another advantage is the width provided by Prass and Laimer, which creates wide overloads when they overlap the winger. This allows the team to spread wide and stretch the defence.

This 3-4-3 formation creates a hard to break down unit that excels at winning the ball back high. It is best suited for games against teams that try to play out from the back.