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Austria

World Cup 2026 · Group J · UEFA · FIFA Rank #24

Group SpoilerCoach: Ralf RangnickBest result: Third place (1954)Appearance #8

⚙️ Tactical Profile

Back after 28 years playing Rangnick's gegenpressing in its purest form: hunt in packs, win it back in five seconds, go straight at goal. The Red Bull-schooled core executes it in their sleep. Two honest concerns: no top-shelf striker, and whether the running survives a North American summer.

🔮 Expectations

They won a Euro 2024 group over France and the Netherlands — the 'system dark horse' label is earned. Nobody expects them to out-duel Argentina for first, but second place is widely backed, and no technical side wants Austria in a knockout round.

⭐ Key Players

Marcel SabitzerMidfielder · Borussia Dortmund — The howitzer — Rangnick's most trusted on-field lieutenant.80Christoph BaumgartnerAttacking Mid · RB Leipzig — The pressing system's tip of the spear — and its most reliable scorer.79David AlabaCentre-Back · Real Madrid — The veteran captain steadying a young, frantic team.81Konrad LaimerMidfielder / Right-Back · Bayern Munich — The perpetual-motion machine Rangnick's football requires.79Marko ArnautovicStriker · Red Star Belgrade — Austria's record scorer — still snarling, still scoring at 37.76

📋 Full 26-Man Squad

Alexander SchlagerDavid AffengruberKevin DansoXaver SchlagerStefan PoschNicolas SeiwaldMarko ArnautovicDavid AlabaMarcel SabitzerFlorian GrillitschMichael GregoritschFlorian WiegelePatrick PentzSasa KalajdzicPhilipp LienhartPhillipp MweneCarney ChukwuemekaRomano SchmidDejan LjubicicKonrad LaimerPatrick WimmerAlexander PrassMarco FriedlPaul WannerMichael SvobodaAlessandro Schopf

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