Route to EURO 2024: Austria’s Qualification Journey
Austria had a solid performance in the EURO 2024 qualifiers, securing their spot in the tournament with consistent displays. They finished second in their group, showcasing resilience and tactical discipline. Key victories against Sweden and Azerbaijan and the hard-fought games against favourites Belgium highlighted their ability to compete against strong opponents. With 6 wins out of 8 games, they are considered an exciting participant in this European Championship.
| Country | Goals | Points |
| Belgium | 22-4 | 20 |
| Austria | 17-7 | 19 |
| Sweden | 14-12 | 10 |
| Azerbaijan | 7-17 | 7 |
| Estonia | 2-22 | 1 |
Key Austria Players in EURO Qualifiers
- Top Scorer: Marcel Sabitzer led the scoring charts for Austria with 4 goals.
- Most Productive Players: Marcel Sabitzer (6) and Christoph Baumgartner (5) provided crucial assists and contributed with goals, making them key playmakers.
- Attacking Stats: Michael Gregoritsch impressed with his shot accuracy and attempts on goal, making him a constant threat in the attacking third.
- Defensive Stats: Nicolas Seiwald stood out for his ball recoveries and defensive solidity.
Austria Team Strengths and Playing Style
- Strengths: Austria boasts a balanced team with a mix of experienced internationals and emerging talents. Their defense, led by Kevin Danso and Stefan Posch, is robust, while the midfield, orchestrated by Konrad Laimer, provides creativity and control.
- Playing Style: Austria employs a flexible playing style, often switching between possession-based football and quick counter-attacks. Their ability to adapt tactically makes them a challenging opponent.
Expected Set Piece and Penalty Takers for Austria on EURO 2024
- Penalty Taker: Marko ARNAUTOVIC, Marcel SABITZER
- Backup Penalty Takers: Christoph BAUMGARTNER, Michael GREGORITSCH
- Short Range Free Kicks: Marcel SABITZER
- Longer Range Set Pieces: Marcel SABITZER
- Corners: Marcel SABITZER, Patrick WIMMER, Florian KAINZ
- Aerial Threat from Set Pieces: Michael GREGORITSCH, Gernot TRAUNER
The currently nominated squad: Austria
Goalkeepers
- Niklas HEDL (SK Rapid Wien/AUT)
- Tobias LAWAL (LASK/AUT)
- Heinz LINDNER (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL)
- Patrick PENTZ (Bröndby IF/DEN)
Defenders
- Flavius DANILIUC (FC Red Bull Salzburg/AUT)
- Kevin DANSO (RC Lens/FRA)
- Stefan LAINER (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER)
- Philipp LIENHART (SC Freiburg/GER)
- Philipp MWENE (1. FSV Mainz 05/GER)
- Stefan POSCH (FC Bologna/ITA)
- Leopold QUERFELD (SK Rapid Wien/AUT)
- Gernot TRAUNER (Feyenoord Rotterdam/NED)
- Maximilian WÖBER (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER)
Midfielders
- Thierno BALLO (RZ Pellets WAC/AUT)
- Christoph BAUMGARTNER (RB Leipzig/GER)
- Florian GRILLITSCH (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/GER)
- Marco GRÜLL (SK Rapid Wien/AUT)
- Florian KAINZ (1. FC Köln/GER)
- Konrad LAIMER (FC Bayern München/GER)
- Alexander PRASS (SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz/AUT)
- Marcel SABITZER (Borussia Dortmund/GER)
- Romano SCHMID (SV Werder Bremen/GER)
- Matthias SEIDL (SK Rapid Wien/AUT)
- Nicolas SEIWALD (RB Leipzig/GER)
- Patrick WIMMER (VfL Wolfsburg/GER)
Forwards
- Marko ARNAUTOVIC (Inter Mailand/ITA)
- Maximilian ENTRUP (TSV Egger Glas Hartberg/AUT)
- Michael GREGORITSCH (SC Freiburg/GER)
- Andreas WEIMANN (West Bromwich Albion/ENG)
Austria Expected Formation and Lineup for EURO
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Lineup:
Goalkeeper
- Patrick PENTZ
Defenders
- Maximilian WÖBER
- Stefan POSCH
- Kevin DANSO
- Philipp MWENE
Midfielders
- Konrad LAIMER
- Nicolas SEIWALD
Attacking Midfielders
- Christoph BAUMGARTNER
- Marcel SABITZER
- Florian KAINZ
Forward
- Marko ARNAUTOVIC
Fixture Analysis in Group Stage
Austria vs. France: The first matchday will not be easy. They will face not only the favorite but also an extremely fast-playing team. However, Austria is capable of pulling off a surprise. In the past year, they have repeatedly shown how dangerous they can be against the big teams, and even though the odds don’t look good, a draw is certainly within reach.
My prediction: WIN for France
Austria vs. Poland: The second matchday looks different. Austria will go into the match against Poland as slight favorites and must secure a win here. Austria’s defense will fully focus on man-marking Robert Lewandowski to take him out of the game. Consequently, Poland will face a very tough challenge to stop Austria’s legionnaires.
My prediction: WIN for Austria
Austria vs. Netherlands: On the third and final matchday of the group stage, they will face the stars from the Netherlands. With an impressive performance in the qualifiers, the Netherlands have shown that they will be slight favorites against Austria. Nevertheless, the Austrians will give their all in this crucial match to collect the necessary points to advance to the knockout stage.
My prediction: WIN for Austria or DRAW
Best Players to Pick in EURO 2024 Fantasy for Austria
Top Picks
- Marko Arnautović: As Austria’s primary goal threat and penalty taker, Arnautović is a must-have for his potential to score in any match. Arnautović is known for his extremely clever positioning and being a successful finisher.
- Marcel Sabitzer: His role in both creating and scoring goals, coupled with set-piece duties, makes Sabitzer a key fantasy asset. Sabitzer will definitely become a regular starter on the team and thus score a lot of points.
Budget Options
- Christoph Baumgartner: Priced lower than other attacking options, Baumgartner offers great value with his potential for assists and goals. At 24, Baumgartner is an emerging talent who could shine on the big stage with his dynamic play.
- Konrad Laimer: A solid midfield pick for his ball recoveries and occasional goal contributions. Laimer will get a fixed starting spot thanks to his outstanding performance throughout this year.
Young or Lesser-Known Players
- Nicolas Seiwald: At just 23 years old, he plays an important role in ball recovery and distribution in Austria’s midfield. With the highest nummber of ball recoveries per game, he is a hidden gem for your fantasy team. However, there is still no guarantee that he will be in the starting lineup.
- Kevin Danso: At 25, Danso is a rising star who plays a crucial role in Austria’s defense. Known for his excellent ball recovery skills and ability to distribute the ball effectively, Danso could be a surprise standout in the tournament, contributing valuable points through defensive actions and occasional goal threats from set pieces. Nevertheless, Danso will be an uncertain candidate for the starting lineup if Philipp Lienhart recovers sufficiently.
