Austria
Coach: Ralf Rangnick
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Star Players
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Fixtures
Group J
Full Squad Players List
| # | Player | Pos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | Patrick PentzXI Brondby | GK | |
| 12 | Alexander Schlager RB Salzburg | GK | |
| 13 | Florian Wiegele Viktoria Plzen | GK | |
| Defenders | |||
| 2 | Stefan PoschXI Mainz 05 | RB | |
| 3 | Philipp MweneXI Mainz 05 | LB | |
| 4 | David Affengruber Elche | RB | |
| 5 | Kevin DansoXI Tottenham | CB | |
| 14 | Marco Friedl Werder Bremen | LB | |
| 15 | David AlabaXI Real Madrid | CB | |
| 17 | Philipp Lienhart Freiburg | CB | |
| 21 | Alexander Prass TSG Hoffenheim | player.pos.LWB | |
| 22 | Michael Svoboda Venezia | CB | |
| Midfielders | |||
| 6 | Nicolas SeiwaldXI RB Leipzig | CDM | |
| 7 | Christoph BaumgartnerXI RB Leipzig | CAM | |
| 8 | Konrad LaimerXI Bayern Munich | CM | |
| 10 | Marcel SabitzerXI Borussia Dortmund | CM | |
| 16 | Florian Grillitsch Braga | CDM | |
| 20 | Romano Schmid Werder Bremen | CM | |
| 23 | Carney Chukwuemeka Borussia Dortmund | CM | |
| 24 | Xaver Schlager RB Leipzig | CDM | |
| 25 | Alessandro Schopf Wolfsberger AC | CAM | |
| 26 | Paul Wanner PSV Eindhoven | CM | |
| Forwards | |||
| 9 | Michael GregoritschXI FC Augsburg | ST | |
| 11 | Marko ArnautovicXI Red Star Belgrade | ST | |
| 18 | Sasa Kalajdzic LASK Linz | ST | |
| 19 | Patrick Wimmer Wolfsburg | LW | |
World Cup History
—
Titles
7
Appearances
43
WC Goals
17
Wins
Best finish: 3rd place (1954)
Top scorer: Erich Probst (7 goals)
Most capped: Gerhard Hanappi (10 matches)
Record: 17W – 5D – 13L
Austria were a genuine world power in the 1930s and 1950s — their 'Wunderteam' of the 1930s was considered unbeatable, and they finished third at the 1954 World Cup. Austria are notable for appearing in some of the most controversial matches in World Cup history, including the 'Disgrace of Gijón' in 1982. Marcel Sabitzer leads a modern revival.
Tournament Eras
The Wunderteam — 1934
1934Austria's 'Wunderteam' under Hugo Meisl — featuring Matthias Sindelar, the 'Mozart of Football' — entered the 1934 World Cup as one of the favourites. They reached the semi-finals but lost to hosts Italy 1-0 in a disputed match widely believed to have been influenced by Mussolini. They placed fourth in a play-off.
The 1954 Bronze — Their Finest Hour
1954Austria's greatest modern achievement came in Switzerland 1954 — finishing third, their best-ever result. They demolished the hosts Switzerland 7-5 in one of the highest-scoring games in WC history (a record that still stands) before losing to West Germany in the semi-final. Erich Probst scored seven goals in the tournament.
The Disgrace of Gijón — 1982
1982Austria and West Germany played the most controversial match in World Cup history — an infamous 1-0 German win that sent both teams through at the expense of Algeria. Both teams appeared to play out a predetermined result that suited them both, with minimal effort after the opening goal. FIFA subsequently changed rules to ensure final group games are played simultaneously.
Iconic Moments
The Disgrace of Gijón — 1982
Austria and West Germany played out a 1-0 German win that eliminated Algeria, who had beaten West Germany earlier in the tournament. Both teams appeared to stop competing after the first goal, jogging through the remaining 80 minutes. The match prompted global outrage and permanent rule changes to prevent collusion.
The 7-5 Thriller vs Switzerland — 1954
Austria beat hosts Switzerland 7-5 in the highest-scoring match in World Cup history — a record that still stands. Erich Probst scored four goals. The match featured five goals in the first 20 minutes and was played at a pace rarely seen in football.