Austria Euro 2020 (2021): All about Das Wunderteam 🇦🇹

T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Commercial content | 18+ | Play Responsibly

Austria is back on the continental stage for the eighth time in its history at Euro 2021, having participated in the very first edition of the tournament in 1960. Having failed to reach the knockout stage, the ‘Wunderteam’ will be hoping to finally break through the glass ceiling of the group stage.

🔎 Euro 2020-2021: Austria under the microscope

In 1902, Austria, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, played its first official match against Hungary, which it won by 5 goals to 0. Ten years later, they played in the first Olympic Games in Stockholm, where they finished in 6th place.

The team earned its nickname ‘Wunderteam’ in the 1920s under Hugo Meisl, who built a team that came of age in the early 1930s, winning the International Cup. At that time, Austria was leading the world’s best nations and had some of the best players in the world.

After the Second World War, Austria became a footballing nation again (having been disbanded during the conflict) but they were not very successful and failed. It was not until the late 1970s that they returned to the World Cup. However, it was in 1998 that the Red and Whites played their last finals in the competition. They then went 10 years without appearing in the final.

In 2008, however, it hosted the Euro and automatically qualified for the first time since 1960. They were eliminated in the first round and would not participate in any further international competition until Euro 2016 in France.

Austria Euro 2020

👥 Austria Euro 2020-2021 line-up

Austria, ranked 23rd in the world rankings and second in Group G to qualify for Euro 2020, will be one of the nations to watch. With 6 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats, they are ranked second, behind Poland.

Austria’s 26-man squad

Below is the list of the 26 Austrian players called up by Franco Foda for Euro 2020.

  • Goalkeeper: Alexander Schlager (LASK), Pavao Pervan (Wolfsburg), Daniel Bachmann (Watford)
  • Defenders: Aleksandar Dragovic (Bayer Leverkusen), David Alaba (Bayern Munich), Martin Hinteregger (Eintracht Francfort), Stefan Lainer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Andreas Ulmer (Salzburg), Stefan Posch (TSG Hoffenheim), Philipp Lienhart (SC Freiburg), Marco Friedl (Werder Breme), Christopher Trimmel (Union Berlin)
  • Midfielders: Julian Baumgartlinger (Bayer Leverkusen), Christoph Baumgartner (TSG Hoffenheim), Florian Grillitsch (TSG Hoffenheim), Stefan Ilsanker (Eintracht Frankfurt), Valentino Lazaro (Borussia Monchengladbach), Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig), Louis Schaub (FC Luzerne), Xaver Schlager (VFL Wolfsburg), Alessandro Schöpf (Schalke 04)
  • Forwards: Marko Arnautovic (Shanghai Port), Michael Gregoritsch (FC Augsburg), Sasa Kalajdzic (Vfb Stuttgart), Karim Onisiwo (FSV Mainz)

Franco Foda: Making History

Franco Foda is the first German coach in history to take charge of the Austrian national team in 113 years. The former centre-back took over the reins in 2017 after the departure of Koller, who failed to qualify Austria for the 2018 World Cup. With a wide range of players to choose from, Foda relies on his flexibility to deal with all the possibilities that arise during a match.

Wunderteam match schedule (Group C)

Austria is in Group C at Euro 2020, along with the Netherlands, Northern Macedonia and Ukraine.

🏃 Austria’s Preparation for the Euro

Austria finished second in their qualifying group behind Poland and just ahead of Northern Macedonia, one of the teams they will face at Euro 2020.

Euro 2020 Qualification Results

In the Nations League, Austria also outclassed their opponents to top Group 1 of League B.

Nations League Results

  • 04.09.20 – Norway 1 – 2 Austria
  • 07.09.20 – Austria 2 – 3 Romania
  • 11.10.20 – Northern Ireland 0 – 1 Austria
  • 14.10.20 – Romania 0 – 1 Autriche
  • 15.11.20 – Austria 2 – 1 Northern Ireland
  • 18.11.20 – Austria 1 – 1 Norway

Five Matches Before the Euro

In addition to the three World Cup qualifiers they played in March, two friendlies are also scheduled in the run-up to Euro 2020.

  • 25.03.21 – Scotland 2 – 2 Austria
  • 28.03.21 – Austria 3 – 1 Faroe Islands
  • 31.03.21 – Austria 0 – 4 Denmark
  • 02.06.21 – England – Austria
  • 06.06.21 – Austria – Slovaquie

⭐ The Star Player at Euro 2020-2021: David Alaba

The Bayern Munich left-back is the most important player in the Austrian national team. He has been named Austrian Sports Personality of the Year and Austrian Footballer of the Year on several occasions and is also capable of playing in midfield. The 28-year-old has an impressive record of achievements, including two Champions League titles, nine German league titles, two Club World Cups and multiple national titles.

 

David Alaba - Euro 2020

Powerful, fast and very skilful, he appears to be a real Swiss Army knife within the squad. He has played more than 400 games for the Bavarian club and has been an indispensable part for all of the coaches who have taken over.

This 2020-2021 season will mark the end of his German adventure after more than ten years at the club. Indeed, he has announced his departure and is being considered for a move to Real Madrid.

👟 The Player to Watch at Euro 2021: Marcel Sabitzer

The RB Leipzig midfielder joined the German side in 2014. Now 27 years old, he has fully thrived at the club from the Red Bull stable. He has been part of the club’s superb run, which began with promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016. This was followed by some great performances in the Champions League, including the famous semi-final loss to PSG in the Final 8 in Lisbon last year.

At 26, he appears to be a major offensive weapon for the Austrian team for which he will soon honour his 50th cap. As for his future at the club, a departure is rumoured this summer. Tottenham is said to be on the lookout for the midfielder.

📚 Austria’s Euro Stats and History

Austria will be playing only its fifth European Championship finals this summer. Here is a look at their shared history with the competition in a few figures.

Austria’s Euro Stats

  • 2: Austria have won only 2 of their 12 games in the competition
  • 14: Austria have scored only 14 goals in the competition in their various appearances
  • 1/4: This is Austria’s best finish in the competition, and it came in the first edition in 1960

Austrian Players Individual Statistics at the Euro

  • 1: The most goals scored by an Austrian player at the Euro (Alessandro Schopf and Ivica Vastic)
  • 20 years and 353 days: S. Prödl is the youngest Wunderteam player to have played a Euro match (against Croatia at Euro 2008)
  • 38 years and 257 days: Iviva Vastic, the oldest Austrian player to play a match (against Poland at Euro 2008)

🥊 Austria’s Main Opponents at Euro 2020-2021

Austria seems to be the best-equipped team (along with Ukraine) to try and thwart the Dutch’s plans for the top spot in the group.

Northern Macedonia

This is the team that seems the least dangerous because of its level but also because of its lack of experience at the competition.

➡ All about North Macedonia 🇲🇰 at Euro 2020-2021

Ukraine

Austria’s main rival for second place. The match between the two teams promises to be very interesting.

➡ All about Ukraine 🇺🇦 at Euro 2020-2021

Netherlands

The nation that obviously appears to be the most complicated to play in this group. Will any nation be able to go out and challenge them?

➡ All about the Netherlands 🇳🇱 at Euro 2020-2021

18+ Play Responsibly begambleaware gamestop camcare