World Cup Qualifier Preview: Republic of Ireland -v- Austria

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Since Martin O’Neill’s men won 1-0 in Austria last November, their momentum was checked somewhat by the scoreless home draw against Wales. That match cost them more than just two dropped points with the Republic of Ireland now missing captain Seamus Coleman following his leg break in that game.

 

A win for the Boys in Green against Austria in the Aviva on Sunday evening (kick off 5pm) will at a minimum keep them level on top of Group D with Serbia in the race for Russia 2018 qualification – it would also effectively eliminate Austria from the group.

 

Coleman, who was the match winner in Ireland’s 1-0 home win over Georgia earlier in the campaign, has been in the Ireland camp this week. The skipper watched on from the sidelines as his teammates had a light session on the training pitch in Abbotstown on Saturday morning.

 

Jon Walters, who missed last Wednesday’s open training session in the Aviva Stadium, is fit and is likely to be given the captain’s armband again. He wore it during last Sunday’s 3-1 friendly win against Uruguay. The visitors are missing several players from their squad but O’Neill isn’t taking anything for granted.

 

“Some Austrian players are missing but we have some exceptional players missing as well,” said O’Neill. “Seamus Coleman, being one of the best full backs in European football, (missing) is a blow to us.



 

“Cyrus Christie will come in and take his place. We have a couple of problems. Shane Long is missing. Those things happen. Austria have the man power to over come those things.”

 

Recent poor club performances and indeed his international performance against Uruguay means that there has been some speculation that goalkeeper Darren Randolph’s place is in jeopardy with Keiren Westwood waiting in the wings. Randolph has kept three clean sheets in the campaign so far. O’Neill as usual wasn’t giving too much away.

 

“During the course of my time here I’ve had some big calls to make in a lot of positions and with a lot of personnel and tactical things. I don’t think it will be a great deal different tomorrow.



 

“I couldn’t ask for any more,” said O’Neill in relation to the preparation for the qualifier. “I’m thankful we had the game in New York (against Mexico) to have chance to look at younger players, some playing in the Championship, and also a chance to look at a different type of formation. It is nice to work on those things.

 

“Mexico were very strong. We came back with a good win over Uruguay. Preparations have been fine and concerns were we might pick up some injuries during training but the players are ready to go.”

 

Ireland are unbeaten in the qualifying campaign so far and a win would put them seven points clear of Austria on a night when Serbia welcome Wales to Belgrade in the later game (kick off in that match in the Marakana is 7.45pm Irish time).

 

 

AUSTRIA

It really is win or bust for Austria in Dublin on Saturday evening. Marcel Koller’s men cannot afford to fall any more off the pace in the race for Russia 2018.

 

Last time out in qualification, they topped their group for a spot in Euro 2016 finishing above Russia and Sweden. At the finals in France though they had an early exit and it hasn’t got any better in this campaign. As well as losing to Ireland in Vienna, they were defeated away to Serbia and dropped two points at home to Wales.

 

Manager Marcel Koller has a major selection headache with a depleted squad and a very inexperienced Heinz Linder due to start in goal. Crucially they will also miss the suspended Marko Arnautovic who has scored three goals in qualifying including the opener in Austria 2-0 win over Moldova last March.

 

His Stoke teammate Jon Walters described the loss of Arnautovic as “a big miss for them but they have a very strong team and have players in the background are very dangerous.” Also suspended is Leipzig player Stefan Ilsanker plus they are missing due to illness and injury Marc Janko (tonsillitis), Alessandro Schoepf (knee) and Marcel Sabitzer (arm).

 

While Irish midfielder Eunan O’Kane was celebrating his victory in the Belfast High Court on Friday which paves the way for his planned humanist wedding, the Austrian camp are having different marital difficulties. Andreas Ulmer is not available for selection as the Salzburg player’s wedding is this week.

 

"We have tried hard to bring players who are available to play for us and I have managed to get 23 players to be on-side with me,” said Koller. “I will try to motivate them players so that they give there best come Sunday."

 

Star man David Alaba is available. He has late goalscoring form against the Boys in Green. His goal earned Austria a 1-0 win in Vienna back in September 2013 when he scored with six minutes remaining in the match. The Bayern Munich player scored two minutes into injury time in Dublin to claim his side a point in the 2-2 draw six month’s prior to the previous game.

 

"We will see tomorrow to see which position David Alaba will start the match in for me,” said his head coach Koller. His comments may mean a more central role for Alaba on this occasion “It is important for David to play in a position where he can support his team-mates and be effective in the game"

 

Referee: David Fernández Borbalán (Spain)

 

 

MATCH STATS

Ireland’s win in Vienna last November was the first victory against that opposition since 1963. The previous win to that came eight games ago when Noel Cantwell got an 89th minute penalty to give Ireland a 3-2 win in Dalymount Park.

 

In the 15 previous matches between the sides, Ireland have just three wins to Austria’s nine.

 

Only Darren Randolph and Jon Walters have played all 450 minutes (plus injury time) in the five qualifiers to date. James McClean, who has scored three times in the campaign so far, has played five minutes less than that.

 

 

BETTING

Ireland 13/10; Draw 2/1; Austria 5/2.

 

PREDICTION

1-0 to the Boys in Green.

 

 

Republic of Ireland

Injured: Shane Long, Seamus Coleman.

Suspended: None.

 

Austria

Injured: Marc Janko, Alessandro Schoepf, Marcel Sabitzer.

Suspended: Marko Arnautovic, Stefan Ilsanker.

 

Additional reporting by Sam McKeever. 

 

For report from Saturday’s Ireland pre-match press conference, see O'Neill looking to Warrior Walters in Austria battle.

 

To read the full view from the Austrian camp, see War is not over yet for Austrian Coach Koller.

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile