With a win, Zlatko Dalic’s squad hopes to go to the Nations League finals, while three points are required for Das Team to remain in the premier league.
Team News
Austria
- Austria manager Rangnick will welcome center-back Kevin Danso back from suspension for the visit of Croatia. Meanwhile, veteran left-back Andreas Ulmer will need a checkup after missing the loss to France due to an intestinal infection.
- On Thursday night, Bristol City’s Andreas Weimann received a yellow card before leaving with an injury in the 50th minute. Rangnick admitted that David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic’s withdrawals were similarly fitness-related.
- With Sasa Kalajdzic out for the foreseeable future with an ACL injury, the returning Danso and Michael Gregoritsch could fill in for a depleted Austria side.
Croatia
- In the 71st minute of Croatia’s victory over Denmark, attacker Ivan Perisic was forced off with an injury, ironically owing to a challenge from Tottenham Hotspur colleague Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg; the extent of his injury is yet unknown.
- While Croatia and Spurs fans await news on Perisic’s fitness, Dalic has Mislav Orsic ready to fill the vacancy on the left wing, and Majer will seek to replace Mario Pasalic after scoring the game-winning goal in less than a minute in midweek.
- veteran middle back Domagoj Vida will earn his 100th cap for the Croatian men’s national team if he plays on Sunday, but the 33-year-old is expected to come off the bench if Josko Gvardiol and Josip Sutalo pair up again.
Possible Lineup
Austria: Pentz, Trimmel, Lienhart, Danso, Wober; Sabitzer, Schlager, Siewald, Baumgartner; Onisiwo, Gregoritsch
Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Majer, Kramaric, Orsic
Prediction Analysis
Two important cogs, Alaba and Arnautovic, could miss this game or be forced to play despite not being fully healthy, which could spell doom for an Austria squad already low in confidence.
Three months ago, Croatia was embarrassed by Das Team, but the Checkered Ones have improved defensively and could secure a position in the Finals while simultaneously relegating Austria to League B.
Our prediction is Austria 0-2 Croatia