A real test for Rangnick's team. Prediction for the World Cup match Spain vs Austria
In the round of 16 of the World Cup, Spain and Austria will face off. The match is scheduled for Thursday, July 2, with kick-off at 21:00 Central European Time. I'm offering a bet on the game's scoring potential.
H2H and statistical facts
- Spain has yet to concede a goal in this tournament.
- The Spanish are unbeaten in 33 matches in a row.
- Austria has conceded in all three matches of this World Cup.
- Austria hasn't beaten Spain since 1990.
- The teams have met only once before at a World Cup. Back in 1978, in the group stage, Austria celebrated a 2-1 win.
Spain hitting their peak form
The Spanish national team confidently topped Group H during the World Cup group stage. They displayed high levels of ball control and defensive stability, remaining undefeated throughout this phase of the tournament.
Spain opened with a goalless draw against Cape Verde—0:0—where, despite dominating possession, they struggled to break down a compact defense. In the second round, the team shifted gears and decisively defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0, showcasing their attacking firepower.
In the decisive group stage match, Spain narrowly edged out Uruguay 1-0. This victory secured their top spot and reinforced their status as one of the tournament favorites.
De la Fuente's squad hasn't conceded a single goal at this World Cup and is gradually reaching its peak form. However, there are personnel issues holding back their full attacking potential. Yamal has yet to show his usual brilliance, and Nico Williams continues to struggle with injuries.
Austria performing at their usual level
The Austrian national team had a much tougher group stage, but managed to advance to the playoffs by finishing second in Group J. The team showed character and an ability to fight through difficult matches, earning their spot in the next round.
Austria started the group stage confidently, defeating Jordan 3-1 and displaying clinical finishing and lively attacking play. However, in the second round they faced much stiffer competition.
The team lost to Argentina, complicating their fight for first place. Still, consistent performances against direct rivals allowed Austria to reach the knockout phase.
The key challenge came against Algeria, a game that ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Austria found themselves in trouble multiple times but managed to salvage a result late on, showing real resilience.
Probable lineups
- Spain: Simon, Llorente, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella, Olmo, Pedri, Rodri, Baena, Yamal, Oyarzabal.
- Austria: Schlager, Mwene, Alaba, Lienhart, Posch, Seiwald, Schlager, Schmid, Laimer, Sabitzer, Arnautović.
What to bet on?
Spain shouldn't face major problems here. Austria has struggled defensively, and it will be extremely difficult for them to cope with their opponent’s powerful attacking line. With this in mind, I believe a solid option is to back the reigning European champions to win with a -1 goal handicap.
