Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Austria will be looking to keep their 2022 World Cup qualification hopes alive when they take on Faroe Islands at Torsvollur on Saturday evening. Das Team suffered an unexpected 1-0 loss to Scotland in their last group game, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at Hakan Ericson’s troops. Rapid Wien attacker Ercan Kara is out of contention for the hosts, but Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic is likely to prove a handful for the opposition back-line.
Real Madrid ace David Alaba should keep his place in the starting XI as well. Since Faroe Islands have slim chances of securing qualification for the next year’s showpiece tournament, we are tempted to put our money on the Austrians, who will not have a better chance than this to get back on course in Group F. When the two national teams met in Wien earlier in the process Austria defeated Faroe Islands 3-1.
Highlighted Player (David Alaba):
David Alaba started his youth career at SV Aspern and in 2002 he joined Austria Wien. Bayern Munich chiefs decided to sign him and he was promoted to the reserve team for the 2009/2010 campaign. He made 33 appearances for Bayern Munich II and he has been playing for the first team since 2010. At the age of 17 Alaba made his Champions League debut on 9 March, 2010 against Fiorentina.
The Austrian international is a full back, but he is capable of playing as a left midfielder as well. He represented Austria at the 2016 European Championship finals in France, but das Team failed to impress at the showpiece tournament, suffering elimination in the group stages. David Alaba won his fifth Bundesliga title with Bayern in the 2015/2016 season and he clinched the Champions League trophy with FCB in 2013.
Speaking of his individual honours, he was named Austrian Footballer of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Alaba was born in Wien on 24 June, 1992.
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.