Preview:Austria vs Cyprus - prediction, team news, lineups

Chasing down top spot in Group H, Austria continue their quest to qualify for World Cup 2026 on Saturday, when they welcome Cyprus to Linz.

Having given others a head start while taking part in the UEFA Nations League playoffs, the Austrians then began by claiming maximum points in June.

Match preview

Intent on qualifying automatically for next year's global finals, Austria belatedly kicked off their Group H campaign this summer, putting back-to-back wins on the board.

First, Ralf Rangnick's side beat Romania 2-1 in Vienna, before notching four goals within 27 minutes of the first whistle against group minnows San Marino.

Though they subsequently stepped off the gas and settled for 4-0, a tally of six points leaves them level with Romania and just three shy of leaders Bosnia-Herzegovina - with at least one game in hand on both.

Since making it through to France '98, Austria have failed to reach the World Cup; so, pressure is on their vastly experienced coach to deliver, particularly after his team showed potential at last year's Euros.

Upcoming clashes with their main rivals will dictate whether they can finish first or claim a place in the playoffs, but first a home game against fourth-placed Cyprus awaits.

To date, Cyprus have lost six and drawn one of the countries' encounters at senior level, summing up the size of their task this weekend.

They only avoided defeat in a 2005 friendly - the sole meeting so far this century - and currently sit 106 places below Saturday's hosts in the FIFA world rankings.

In Group H thus far, Cyprus have followed a win over fellow outsiders San Marino with successive defeats, losing 2-1 in Bosnia before returning empty-handed from Romania.

Soon after June's friendly draw against Bulgaria, Akis Mantzios took his side to Bucharest, where they were beaten 2-0, with both strikes coming just before half time.

Having previously struggled in the Nations League and suffered eight straight defeats on the road to Euro 2024, Cyprus are again set to miss out on reaching their first major tournament.

Austria World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

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Austria form (all competitions):

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Cyprus World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

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Cyprus form (all competitions):

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Team News

While captain David Alaba returns from a meniscus tear that has ruled him out of Austria's qualifying campaign so far, fellow defenders Maximilian Wober and Gernot Trauner are both sidelined.

In addition to Alaba, goalkeeper Alexander Schlager is back in the squad after a wrist injury kept him out of June's games; Patrick Pentz may therefore drop down to the bench.

Ralf Rangnick has recalled Alessandro Schopf after more than three years in the international wilderness, also handing a first senior call-up to teenage forward Nikolaus Wurmbrand, who scored both goals in Rapid Vienna's recent win against Wolfsberger.

The latter will vie with 127-cap veteran Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch and Derby County's Andreas Weimann for selection up front.

Meanwhile, Cyprus have brought in Brazil-born goalkeeper Fabio this month, and the Omonia Nicosia stopper is set to compete with regular number one Joel Mall.

Sampdoria defender Nikolas Ioannou again misses out, but key men Grigoris Kastanos, Pieros Sotiriou and Ioannis Pittas were all named in an initial 26-man squad - the latter has scored two of the visitors' three Group H goals so far.

Austria possible starting lineup: Schlager; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Laimer, Seiwald; Baumgartner, Sabitzer, Gregoritsch; Arnautovic

Cyprus possible starting lineup: Mall; Satsias, Sielis, Laifis, Pileas; Kastanos, Kyriakou; Loizou, Sotiriou, Kakoullis; Pittas