Belgium are all set to host Austria in a UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers fixture at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
Belgium and Austria both have a 100% record so far in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, and they will be eager to keep it intact when they square up against each other on Saturday.
Belgium had a disappointing outing at the FIFA World Cup 2022 last year. They were knocked out in the group stage itself despite being one of the favourites to win it. The Red Devils will be eager to put it behind them with a solid run in the Euro qualifiers.
Post their poor outing, Roberto Martinez resigned and Domenico Tedesco was handed over the reins of the national team. Tedesco has a 100% record so far and will look to build on it when his team hosts Austria.
The Red Devils won their opening Euro qualifier 3-0 over Sweden courtesy of a Romelu Lukaku hat-trick. Post that, they also registered a win against Germany in a friendly. And, they will be heading into this high-voltage encounter high on confidence.
Meanwhile, Austria will hit the road hoping to maintain their 100% record in the qualifiers. They have won both their matches and sit at the top of Group F. Ralf Rangnick’s team won 4-1 against Azerbaijan 4-1 in their opening game and followed it up with a 2-1 win over Estonia.
While they did endure a tough run in the UEFA Nations League last year winning just one out of their six matches, they will be riding high on confidence this time around having won their last four fixtures. After winning their opening two qualifier matches in March, they followed it up with friendly wins over Andorra and Italy back in November.
While they are in red-hot form, Austria last won over Belgium back in 1959. Post that the two teams have met five times and the Red Devils have won two and the remaining three have ended in a draw. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News & Tactics
Belgium
You can find the Walk of Fame of Belgian Football just outside our headquarters in the Proximus Basecamp. Thibaut's hands are now next to the feet of E. Hazard, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Lukaku, Mertens, Cayman, Zeler, Wullaert and Philtjens. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UpJu0Q0qBb
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 15, 2023
The home team will be without the services of Kevin De Bruyne, who picked up an injury in the UEFA Champions League final. Uncapped Aster Vranckx replaces De Bruyne in the squad.
There are five other uncapped players in the squad. Domenico Tedesco has called up Thomas Kaminski, Arnaud Bodart, Ameen Al-Dakhil, Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye and Olivier Deman for the first time.
Tedesco is expected to go ahead with the 4-3-3 formation for this fixture with Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois in goal. Timothy Castagne and Arthur Theate will be the full-backs. Meanwhile, Wout Faes will pair up with Jan Vertonghen in the heart of the defence.
Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans and Orel Mangala will make the midfield three in the absence of De Bruyne. Aston Villa’s latest signing Tielemans will look to lead by example and try to dictate the pace of this game. Meanwhile, Yannick Carrasco will start on the right wing and Lois Openda will start on the left. The duo will look to link up with star striker Romelu Lukaku.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate; Onana, Tielemans, Mangala; Carrasco, Lukaku, Openda
Austria
David Alaba is all set to receive his 100th international cap when Austria square up against Belgium. The visitors do not really have any major injury concerns and Ralf Rangnick should have a full squad to select from.
🇧🇪 🇦🇹 Belgien, wir kommen! Teamchef Ralf Rangnick gibt vor dem EM-Quali-Hit ein Verletzten-Update und klärt die Tormannfrage. Kapitän David Alaba spricht über sein 100. Länderspiel ➡ https://t.co/EM8NgN281f#GemeinsamÖSTERREICH pic.twitter.com/M2B7qiTNgz
— ÖFB – oefb.at (@oefb1904) June 16, 2023
Ragnick is expected to go ahead with the 4-4-2 formation, where Daniel Bachmann will be in goal. Phillipp Mwene and Maximilian Wober will start out wide on each flank as the full-backs. In the heart of the defence, skipper David Alaba will pair up with Kevin Danso.
Konrad Laimer and Patrick Wimmer will start out wide in the centre of the park. The duo will look to provide width to their attack and also help out their full-backs when needed. Nicolas Seiwald and Marcel Sabitzer will start in the central roles and they will look to control the pace of this game. As far as the attack is concerned, Marko Arnautovic will pair up with Michael Gregoritsch.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Bachman; Mwene, Alaba, Danso, Wober; Laimer, Seiwald, Sabitzer, Wimmer; Arnautovic, Gregoritsch
Key Stats
- Austria last won over Belgium back in 1959
- Belgium have won two out of their last five meetings, the remaining three have ended in a draw.
- Austria are on a four-match winning streak in all competitions.
- Both teams have a 100% record in the
- The Red Devils have won three and lost three in their previous seven outings.
Player to Watch
Marcel Sabitzer
Sabitzer did not really get much game time while playing for Bayern Munich in the first half of the season. But, an injury to Christian Eriksen resulted in a loan move to Manchester United in January. And, post that he has been in fine form. While his future remains uncertain, he will turn his attention to the international games.
The 29-year-old midfielder has put in exceptional performances throughout the second half of the season and he is expected to bring his ‘A’ game to the table. Sabitzer featured in a total of 18 matches for the Red Devils and was involved in four goals.
Prediction
Belgium 2-2 Austria
While Belgium have a great track record against Austria, they have been inconsistent in the recent past. Despite having some of the best players in world football, they have failed to live up to the expectations time and again.
Meanwhile, Austria have been doing wonders of late. They are on a four-match winning streak and will look to make it five in a row. They are a great collective unit and given their recent they might make Belgium’s life a lot more difficult. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw in this
