Austria dey chase Group H top spot as dem dey continue dia World Cup 2026 waka dis Saturday, when dem go host Cyprus for Linz.
Because dem first take part for UEFA Nations League playoffs, Austria start late for qualification, but dem don quickly gather maximum points since June.
Match Preview
Austria dey eye direct ticket go World Cup, no playoffs drama. Ralf Rangnick boys start with solid 2-1 win over Romania for Vienna, then wipe San Marino with 4 goals inside just 27 minutes. Even though dem calm down later, the 6 points still keep dem level with Romania and close to Bosnia on top.
Since 1998 wey Austria last show for World Cup, dem never reach again. Na why pressure dey the coach to deliver after the Euros performance wey give fans small hope. Dis home game against Cyprus dey important before dem jam Bosnia and Romania again.
For Cyprus side, na wahala full ground. Out of all dia past meetings, dem don lose 6, draw 1 – and the only draw sef na friendly back in 2005.
For FIFA ranking, dem dey more than 100 places below Austria. Inside dis Group H, Cyprus manage beat San Marino but don lose to Bosnia and Romania back-to-back.
Under new coach Akis Mantzios, dem still never show serious improvement. Na why chance slim say dem go reach dia first ever major tournament.
Austria Form
- World Cup Qualifiers: W W
- All competitions: W D D L W W
Cyprus Form
- World Cup Qualifiers: W L L
- All competitions: W L W L D L
Team News
Good news for Austria as captain David Alaba dey back from injury, though Wober and Trauner still dey miss. Keeper Alexander Schlager don return, meaning Patrick Pentz fit go bench.
Rangnick call back Alessandro Schopf after 3 years and give first invite to teenage striker Nikolaus Wurmbrand. Him go dey battle with veterans like Marko Arnautovic and Gregoritsch for attack.
For Cyprus, dem call new Brazil-born keeper Fabio, wey go compete with Joel Mall. Sampdoria man Nikolas Ioannou still dey injured, but key players like Grigoris Kastanos, Pieros Sotiriou and Ioannis Pittas dey inside squad. Pittas don score 2 of Cyprus 3 goals so far.
Austria Probable XI
Schlager; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Laimer, Seiwald; Baumgartner, Sabitzer, Gregoritsch; Arnautovic
Cyprus Probable XI
Mall; Satsias, Sielis, Laifis, Pileas; Kastanos, Kyriakou; Loizou, Sotiriou, Kakoullis; Pittas
Prediction
Austria 2-0 Cyprus
Austria fit collect easy win for home ground. Dem squad deep pass and goals go show. Cyprus go likely collect third straight loss.
