Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Denmark will look to make amends for a 1-0 loss to Croatia when they take on Austria at Parken Stadium on Monday evening. The Danes are eager to cement top position in Group 1, but this game will be anything but a walk in the park for the hosts. Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite is widely expected to return to the starting XI, while, as always, Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen will be the man to watch in the home team.
Das Team, on the other hand, did well to hold star-studded France to a 1-1 draw in their third group game, but seeing that Denmark are a real force to be reckoned with at home, we do not believe that Marko Arnautovic and Co. are capable of grabbing something from the match. Both David Alaba and Marcel Sabitzer should keep their spots in the starting XI.
Highlighted Player (Kasper Dolberg):
Standing at 6ft 2-inches, the tall forward kicked-off his youth career with GFG Voel in Denmark in 2005 and spent five years with them before joining hometown club Silkeborg IF at the age of 13. At Silkeborg, Dolberg quickly rose through the ranks and made his professional debut on the 17th of May, 2015, as a 66th substitute against Brondby in the Danish Superliga.
At the start of the 16/17 season, Dolberg signed for Eredivisie giants AFC Ajax on a three-year deal after impressing the clubs' renowned scouting network. He scored his first professional goal on the 26th of July, 2016, in Ajax's 1-1 draw with PAOK Thessaloniki in a UEFA Champions League Qualifier match. In what was a prolific spell at de Godenzonen, Dolberg made 119 appearances and scored 45 goals for the club. Born on the 6th of October, 1997, the 22-year-old is currently on a five-year contract with French club Nice that in August 2019.
Dolberg is additionally a former Denmark youth International, having represented his country at every youth level. For the senior team, the striker made his debut on the 11th of November, 2016, and has earned 13 caps so far.
Highlighted Team (Austria):
Austria is one of Europe’s oldest national football teams and they enjoyed plenty of success during the 1930’s, earning the nickname Wunderteam in the process. Das Team achieved a fourth-place finish at the second World Cup in 1934, before finishing in third place at the 1954 finals. However, Austria have since participated at another five World Cup finals, never getting past the first knockout stage.
Das Team were even more disappointing in the European Championship qualifying campaigns, failing to qualify for 12 straight tournaments before appearing at the 2008 finals as co-hosts. However, Austria made it to the Euro 2016 in style, winning nine of ten qualifiers to suggest the team may be on the path to return to old glory days.
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Andreas Herzog is the team’s most capped footballer with 103 appearances, whereas Toni Polster is the most prolific striker with 44 goals in 95 outings. Matthias Sinderlar, Ernst Ocwirk, Herbert Prohaska and Hans Krankl are some of the most notable players to have represented Austria over the years.